Vice President JD Vance rang in the Marine Corps’ 250th at Camp Pendleton, praising fellow Marines after an assault demo and pledging they are ready to fight and win.

The U.S. Marines are investigating the firing of live artillery over a major California highway during a ceremony attended by Vice President JD Vance in which one shell blew up in the air and rained shrapnel onto police vehicles parked nearby,

The 5 Freeway, a major artery in Southern California, closed for a live-fire event at Camp Pendleton in northern San Diego County that was attended by Vice President JD Vance.

Both Vance, a former Marine who served as a public affairs officer in Iraq, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth celebrated the show of force and praised the gathered troops for their service to the country and for adhering to standards they argue have eroded in the quest for diversity under previous administrations.

Vice President JD Vance’s trip to a military base in California illustrated rising tensions between the federal government and Democratic leaders.

"Artillery pieces have historically been fired during routine training from land-based artillery firing points west of the I-5 into impact areas east of the interstate within existing safety protocols and without the need to close the route," the statement said.

Metal shrapnel from explosive ordnance that was fired over Interstate 5 during a U.S. Marine Corps live-fire training demonstration over the freeway Saturday struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle,