Newsom clashes with White House over Marine Corps celebration highway closure

The U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County sparked a heated social media exchange Saturday between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the White House.

The event, titled America’s Marines 250: From Sea to Shore: A Review of Amphibious Strength, included a series of festivities at the Marine Corps base, including a large-scale live-fire demonstration attended by Vice President JD Vance.

Newsom called the show of military power “dangerous” and an “absurd show of force,” announcing Saturday that a section of Interstate 5 near the base would be temporarily closed during the celebration.

“Due to the Trump administration’s plans, drivers should expect delays on Interstate 5 and other state highways in Southern California before, during and after the event,” Newsom told X.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at an event in Los Angeles on Thursday. (Reuters/Mike Blake)

The Democrat doubled down later in the day, accusing the White House of denying earlier in the week that any highway closures would be necessary despite the use of live ammunition.

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However, the White House quickly hit back, accusing Newsom of distorting the facts.

“Newscum is lying,” posted the White House Quick Response account on

The White House account also reposted an X-rated message from Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz, who wrote: “Gavin Newscum shuts down a major California highway simply because JD Vance is in the state. This inconveniences tens of thousands of Americans. What a little man.”

A view of US Navy landing craft air cushions on the beach during an amphibious assault demonstration as part of the Marine Corps 250th anniversary celebration attended by Vice President JD Vance at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Saturday. (Reuters/Mike Blake)

Newsom then refuted: “The [California Highway Patrol] and road safety experts say what every sane person knows: it is not safe for people to drive on a major highway at high speed directly under LIVE AMMUNITION.

“The White House fails to communicate, puts the public at risk, then tries to blame the governor for doing the right thing – keeping people out of harm’s way – yet another day in Trump’s authoritarian America.”

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The exchange follows days of tension between Newsom and the Trump administration over the Camp Pendleton event.

Earlier this week, California’s governor called the anniversary celebration a “vanity parade.”

“Donald Trump and JD Vance think closing I-5 to fire missiles from ships is a way to respect the military,” Newsom posted on “PUT AWAY YOUR VANITY PARADE AND PAY OUR TROOPS INSTEAD.”

However, William Martin, special assistant to the president and communications director to the vice president, quickly pushed back against Newsom.

Vice President JD Vance attends the demonstration of amphibious capabilities as part of the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebrations at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Saturday. (Oliver Contreras/Piscine via Reuters)

“This is total fake news,” Martin said in a post on X, which was reposted by the account @VP

A Marine Corps news release issued Wednesday about the festivities said “no public roads or transportation routes will be closed.”

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Extensive safety measures were implemented during the celebration, which was expected to attract more than 15,000 attendees, including detailed risk assessments, on-site emergency teams and fully scheduled air, ground and land movements, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported earlier in the week, citing event organizers.

Newsom and the White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Alex Nitzberg of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.