Newsom warns of missiles over I-5, but freeway will remain open during live-fire Camp Pendleton event

SACRAMENTO  — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office backed off plans to close parts of Interstate 5 on Thursday after mounting tension with federal and military officials over a White House-directed live-fire event off Camp Pendleton’s coast.

The governor’s office said they were told federal authorities were considering closing the freeway and when no order materialized by Wednesday, state officials began weighing whether to do so themselves. Driving that decision, they said, were safety concerns about reports that Navy ships would fire live ordnance over the freeway onto the base during the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration Saturday.

The Marine Corps insisted that “no highways or transportation routes will be closed” following a detailed risk assessment. Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis of the I Marine Expeditionary Force said Thursday that no ordnance will be fired from a U.S. Navy ship during the event, but Marines will fire high explosive rounds from artillery known as M777 Howitzers into designated ranges “with all safety precautions in place.” Simulated explosives and visual effects will also be used, he said.

The episode underscored the growing friction between California and the Trump administration, with Newsom criticizing the White House for failing to coordinate or share safety information ahead of the event titled “Sea to Shore — A Review of Amphibious Strength,” which will feature Vice President JD Vance.

“Anything we can do to celebrate our vets, to celebrate our heroes, I’m all for,” Newsom said Thursday. “Let’s just do it in coordination and collaboration with state and local leaders. That continues to be a struggle with this administration.”

The military show of force coincides with No Kings rallies and marches across the state on Saturday that are expected to draw large crowds, demonstrations challenging President Trump and what critics say is government overreach. Newsom encouraged people to participate in the protests, but to do so peacefully.

“Because there’s one person that hopes you don’t, that hopes there is disruption, there’s some violence,” Newsom said, referring to Trump. “And he will exploit that.”

The Marine Corps celebration on Saturday will include a live amphibious assault demonstration and will be recorded and broadcast nationally by the White House Production Office on Nov. 9.

“The force training activities planned ensure our readiness to defend the Homeland and protect our Nation’s interests abroad against emergent and unprecedented challenges today and in the years ahead,” according to a Marine Corps news release.

A statement from Newsom’s office criticized the event as “pompous displays of power” and said “the lack of coordination and communication from the federal government on this event — and the overall impact to our society and economy — is evident of the larger disarray that is the Trump Administration.”

Newsom took to the social media site X to criticize the event, putting the blame on the White House for the possible closure of I-5.

“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 posted Wednesday.

A few hours after Newsom’s X post, the Marine Corps released a statement saying its weekend exercises would not require shutting down the freeway.

“In advance of the training event and demonstration, we conducted a detailed risk assessment,” according to the statement. “All participants will be briefed, medical, fire, and emergency assets will be on site, and multiple rehearsals will be conducted. All air, surface, and ground movements are scripted and rehearsed in accordance with standard operating procedures and established safety checklists.”

The section of I-5 that Newsom was considering closing is the stretch between Orange County and San Diego County from Friday to Saturday, which would have cut off a major traffic artery that moves upward of 80,000 travelers a day. A closure with little notice would have resulted in massive gridlock from Dana Point in the north to well past Del Mar in the south.

California Department of Transportation spokesman Edward Barrera said Wednesday that, based on “potential scenarios shared with us by the federal government,” the agency was prepared to shut down a section of Interstate 5 for the safety of California motorists.

Vance, the first Marine veteran to serve as vice president, is expected to attend the event Saturday along with 15,000 Marines, sailors, veterans and their families, according to an event media release. Along with Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to deliver remarks.

Camp Pendleton advised nearby residents that there would be live-fire training with high-explosive munitions through Sunday, which will result in some roads on the base being closed.

The Trump administration previously had plans for a major celebration next month for the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marines, which would have included an air and sea show — with the Blue Angels and parading warships — to be attended by Trump, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Plans to host that show in San Diego have been called off, the paper reported.

Camp Pendleton is a 125,000-acre base in northwestern San Diego County that has been critical in preparing troops for amphibious missions since World War II thanks to its miles of beach and coastal hills. The U.S. Department of Defense is considering making a portion of the base available for development or lease.