The Marine Corps — under the watchful eyes of JD Vance and Pete Hegseth — staged a demonstration on Saturday in southern California.
It wasn’t a No Kings demonstration, though. It was more like a Yes Kings demonstration.
Some of the Marine Corps’ shells that were fired by M777 howitzers across California’s Interstate 5 prematurely detonated, sending shrapnel down on what could have been hundreds of motorists.
Why the hell did the Marine Corps fire artillery shells over Interstate 5 anyway?
Interstate 5 is the largest and most-traveled north-south freeway in California.
The military demonstration was part of an exercise marking the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. It was attended by JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Beforehand, the military predicted that the exercise would be safe, but California Governor Gavin Newsom disagreed. “Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous,” Newsom said last week.
Newsom was so concerned about the plan that he ordered a 17-mile stretch closed of the freeway closed between Los Angeles and San Diego — which caused significant backups on that portion of the interstate, used by approximately 80,000 people daily.
Before the mishap, Vance’s office disputed Newsom’s claim that the live rounds were dangerous, saying that the Marine Corp’s demonstration was “an established safe practice.”
“If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead,” Vance’s communications director said in a statement. “It would come as no surprise that he would stoop so low considering his pathetic track record of failure as governor.”
After the round prematurely exploded on Saturday, the whole exercise — which was expected to include the firing of approximately 60 155-millimeter shells — was terminated.
An active-duty Marine artillery officer and a former Marine artillery noncommissioned officer who spoke to the New York Times described the exercise as “unusual.” They said the only howitzer training they had previously observed at Camp Pendleton had taken place at approved artillery ranges on the main side of base, east of the interstate, which they said were a much safer option for training.
A highway patrol official based in the area also described it as “unusual and concerning.” Tony Coronado, the highway patrol’s border division chief, said in a statement that “it is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur near an active freeway.”
So what’s going on here? Why did the Marine Corps decide to fire live artillery shells across California’s major interstate freeway on Saturday?
Could the decision have had anything to do with the planned No Kings demonstrations in California on Saturday — the heart of anti-Trump country — and the well-known fact that Trump hates California?
The bases are secure, and very difficult for anyone to get into a firing range without detection and immediate interception and arrest.
To do this on public and private land, over a major interstate is beyond comprehension, although Hegseth and Vance are stupid and inexperienced enough to try it. So is the felon. All they are proving is how utterly unfit they are for the jobs they hold.
Any lower ranked officer who commanded such an exercise would be court martialed and dishonorably discharged. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
Plus, Newsom told them not to. That's all these fascist idiots need to know. RESIST!
Newsom plays the role of Bugs Bunny, drawing the line in the dirt
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on October 20, 2025, 8:16 pm, in reply to "Intimidation." ADMIN
Hegseth, Vance and felon play the roles of Yosemite Sam, Porky Pig, and Elmer Fudd stepping over it. Right over the cliff. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
on October 20, 2025, 4:40 pm
