A major western U.S. highway was closed in California due to a Marine Corps live-fire demonstration Saturday. The event once again pitted California Gov. Gavin Newsom against the Trump administration.

Newsom lashed out at the Trump administration Saturday, accusing the White House of pressuring the military to conduct a “ludicrous show of force” with a planned live rounds exercise on the busy I-5 freeway as part of an event marking the military’s 250th anniversary.

“The president is putting ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety,” Newsom said in a statement. “Firing live ammunition over a busy freeway is not only wrong, it’s dangerous. Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with is not a show of force; it’s reckless, disrespectful, and beneath the office you hold.” State officials, who temporarily closed I-5 near Camp Pendleton where the exercise was taking place, said the Marine Corps confirmed Thursday that the exercise would take place at a training range without firing over the freeway. Newsom’s office said it received word a day later that the state was to warn pedestrians about “ongoing aerial fire,” and federal officials confirmed a live-fire exercise was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. “Due to the extreme safety and distraction risk to drivers, including sudden, unexpected, and loud explosions, a section of I-5 will be closed for a period of time on Saturday,” the office said. Newsom's office.

Interstate 5 was closed from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road, a stretch of the main artery of more than 15 miles, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time, according to the California Highway Patrol. Vice President JDVance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attended the event at Camp Pendleton commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Marines.

Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main highway along the Pacific coast between San Diego and Los Angeles. It is part of the U.S. Interstate Highway system and runs from the southern border with Mexico to the northern border with Canada.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said in a statement that the military event would involve the firing of live ammunition by the federal government on the freeway and ordered the temporary closure of a section of it due to the safety risk and distractions to drivers.

The Amtrak Surfliner train service, a popular rail line frequently used by Southern California residents, was also closed around noon.

The military exercise held Saturday at Camp Pendleton to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Army was visited by Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife.

Vice President Vance informed members of the U.S. Marine Corps gathered at Camp Pendleton on Saturday that they will be paid despite the government shutdown.

The event was attended by thousands of U.S. Marines. Navy, sailors, veterans, and families, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also delivered remarks.

Vance watched over the Navy’s largest exercise in a decade on October 18, featuring F-18 and F-35 flyovers, parachute landings, Navy Seals swimming ashore, offshore destroyers and amphibious ships, simulated village explosions, and MH-60 helicopters dropping more Marines on the water.