Newsom Orders I-5 Closed During Marine Corps 250th, Pins Blame on White House
California’s Democratic governor announced a partial closure of I-5 on Saturday, saying drivers should expect delays tied to planned military activity. The timing was striking: Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were set to lead a live-fire training at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach as part of the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary observance. The move instantly became a political flashpoint inside and outside the state.
The Marine Corps pushed back with a clear statement that the event is a training exercise confined to approved ranges and that it would follow established safety protocols, and the service said no highways or public transportation routes would be affected. That official reassurance raised immediate questions about the necessity of shutting a major interstate. Critics argued the closure looked less like safety management and more like a political maneuver.
Still, Newsom announced Saturday he would close portions of I-5, claiming that “because of the Trump Admin’s plans,” drivers should expect delays. His office pointed to traffic safety concerns and recommendations from state experts as the reason for the temporary restrictions, even as military officials said they had not requested road closures. The resulting mismatch between state orders and military statements fueled sharp partisan reaction.
“Governor Newsom is spreading Fake News to Californians to fearmonger and score cheap political points,” Vance’s press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, said. “Vice President Vance is eager to be in California on Saturday celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Corps alongside United States Marines who, despite the Democrats’ shutdown, will continue to receive pay thanks to President Trump’s hard work.”
The celebration was expected to draw thousands of Marines, sailors, veterans, and families, yet Newsom’s communications team amplified reports that alleged the White House wanted to shut down I-5 for a so-called “vanity parade.” That narrative intensified public anxiety and put traffic planning in the political crosshairs without new evidence. Local and federal statements soon began to contradict the governor’s framing.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military,” Newsom Wednesday, repeating the false media reports. The rumors also falsely linked the supposed closure to nationwide No Kings protests planned for the same day, creating a swirl of misinformation and heightened tensions. Observers on both sides noted how quickly the story turned into a partisan fight instead of a straightforward safety discussion.
By Saturday, Newsom’s office continued to insist the demonstration posed an “extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers.” That phrasing echoed the administration’s earlier warnings and justified, in their view, the temporary restrictions on traffic during the event. Opponents called the language alarmist, pointing to military assurances that public routes would remain clear.
Following Newsom’s announcement, the White House that neither it nor the Marines had requested highway closures and that the military had made clear there were no public safety concerns related to the event. The federal pushback underscored the contrast between military planning and the governor’s public messaging, and it added fuel to the critics accusing Newsom of politicization. The exchange made the I-5 closure a national talking point rather than just a local traffic story.
“Today is the 250th anniversary celebration of [the United States Marine Corps] at Camp Pendleton in California. But Gavin Newsom – who never served a day in the military – is overruling the best-trained and most-experienced leaders of our Marine Corps and shutting down the main interstate highway in the San Diego region for no other reason than a spiteful publicity stunt and to ruin the occasion,” Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California on X.
“It’s a disgusting abuse of power. But not at all surprising.”
Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment. The episode leaves voters with questions about judgment and priorities when state officials and the military send different signals about public safety and logistics. Republicans framed the closure as another example of political theater at the expense of ordinary Californians who rely on the interstate.
