California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called Saturday\u2019s Marine Corps live-fire training demonstration in his state “reckless” after a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle was damaged.<\/p>\n
The CHP said<\/a> Sunday that one of its vehicles on Interstate 5 was damaged<\/a> by metal shrapnel from an explosive artillery shell fired during the demonstration at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were at the base for a celebration of the Marines\u2019 250th birthday, which is Nov. 10. <\/p>\n \u201cWe love our Marines and owe a debt of to gratitude to Camp Pendleton, but next time, the Vice President and the White House shouldn\u2019t be so reckless with people\u2019s lives for their vanity projects,\u201d Newsom said Sunday<\/a> on the social platform X.<\/p>\n The CHP said no injuries were reported, while Tony Coronado, its border division chief, called the incident \u201cunusual and concerning\u201d in the patrol\u2019s release. Coronado added that it was \u201chighly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to the demonstration, Newsom temporarily closed<\/a> the highway due to safety concerns. In a statement before the event, he said the Trump administration is \u201cusing our military to intimidate people [they] disagree with,\u201d and added that he closed the highway at the recommendation of CHP traffic safety experts.<\/p>\n When reached for comment, the I Marine Expeditionary Force (IMEF), which conducted the demonstration alongside the Navy’s Third Fleet, said it is “aware” of the incident. It added that live-firing trainings occur “year-round” at Camp Pendleton,” and Saturday’s demonstration “went through a rigorous safety evaluation, and deliberate layers of redundancy, to ensure the safety of fellow citizens.”<\/p>\n After the incident, firing was suspended and an investigation into its “root cause” began, the IMEF said. <\/p>\n The Pentagon and Vance\u2019s office referred The Hill to the Marines for comment.<\/p>\n Saturday on X, the White House\u2019s rapid response team said<\/a> the Marines \u201crepeatedly said there are no public safety concerns with today\u2019s exercises.\u201d<\/p>\n