Unless you've been burying your head under the sand at the beach, you've heard about the second edition of the No Kings protests taking place across the country on Saturday, October 18, 2025. While it may have been the highlight of the day for some, it wasn't the large group of people on a special beach in California – Camp Pendleton – where the U.S. Marine Corps gathered to celebrate its 250th anniversary with Vice President J.D. Vance standing nearby. their.
The title of the program for the anniversary of the founding of the branch in 1775 is “Maritime 250: from sea to shore.”
Also, instead of hanging around with loser boomer types at protest events, my Townhall.com colleague Kurt Schlichter was there (even though he's an Army retiree):
Let the losers go to their pathetic “No Kings” rally, to these festivals of boomer masturbation. I'm going to cover the vice president @JDVance And @PeteHegseth at Camp Pendleton for a live-fire exercise. @townhallcom.
I wear my Army War College hat because I have to represent pic.twitter.com/hESisVTaEB
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) October 18, 2025
On Inauguration Day in January of this year, as previously RedState wroteVance has earned an honor that no other vice president of the United States can claim—he is the nation's first Marine to hold that position.
READ MORE: Hot Takes: 'No Kings' Protests Across the Country (and World) Highlight Rebels Without a Clue
Country singer John Rich led the attending Marines in singing the Marine Corps anthem:
“THE STREETS ARE GUARDED BY THE US MARINE”@USMC SING THE SEA HYMN WITH @JOHNRICH 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yhoqEQ26Ph
— Real America Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) October 18, 2025
Also present along with Vice President Vance were Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith.
J.D. and his wife, Second Lady, Usha Vance, arrived at Camp Pendleton around 1:00 pm PT:
@VP @JDVANCE ARRIVES AT CAMP PENDLETON TO VIEW BEACH OPERATIONS@BenBergquam @USMC pic.twitter.com/DHkTgoWh5Y
— Real America Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) October 18, 2025
The demonstration included Navy SEALs, paratroopers and other Navy and Marine Corps personnel.”beach cleanup operation“, as Lieutenant Colonel Pirek explained in the preview:
“WE'RE GOING TO COMBINE A MASSIVE COMBAT FORCE ON THIS BEACH!” – Lt. Col. Pirek details the strength, power and patriotism that will be on display this afternoon as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps.@BenBergquam @USMC pic.twitter.com/QFWWHO9z4e
— Real America Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) October 18, 2025
The Vice President and Usha got a chance to watch the demonstration up close:
.@VP And @SLOTUS Watch a live-fire demonstration of amphibious capabilities at Red Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California—in celebration @USMC250 years since birth. pic.twitter.com/Qy6ZFcsZUM
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 18, 2025
Earlier Saturday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom tried to stick his nose where he shouldn't regarding activities at Camp Pendleton, as my colleague Jim Thompson wrote.
SEE: Newsom and his communications team are lying again, this time about the US Marines.
Just before the Vice President took the stage, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the Marines, praising both the Commander in Chief and his Deputy:
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks with Marine Corps Camp Pendleton
“Your Vice President Vance joined the Marine Corps after high school and served in Iraq.” – @Secwar
Sec. Hegseth gives credit to both President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.@realdonaldtrump pic.twitter.com/nZOzOzeYEZ— Real America Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) October 18, 2025
“We have a chance to see our commander in chief fight for all of you every single day. I know because I see it,” Hegseth said. “President Trump appreciates your dedication, your valor, your tenacity. The sacrifices you make and the sacrifices all your families make.”
“We know that no Marine serves alone. They serve with their family,” he continued. “Someone else who gets it is Vice President Vance, who is next to President Trump. He himself made the same sacrifices as you.”
“Your vice president joined the Marine Corps after graduating from high school and served in Iraq. Your Vice President knows and shares the dedication of these forces, and he always represents you in Washington,” he added. “It’s an honor to watch Vice President Vance – day in and day out – live the values of the Marine Corps, speak the truth, have courage… It’s incredible to see!”
Vice President Vance was greeted on stage with a rousing, traditional “Hurray!” Marine Corps.
🚨 DAMN GOD! US Marines go crazy for Vice President J.D. Vance as he takes the stage at Camp Pendleton.
“GIVE THEM ANOTHER ONE!”
“OHHH!!” 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/CRIJQdG1pV
— Eric Dougherty (@EricLDaugh) October 18, 2025
Vance delivered a personal message from President Trump that he is proud of them, loves them and is going to make sure that, despite the Schumer shutdown, they will be paid “exactly what [they] deserve.”
🚨 BREAKING: Vice President J.D. Vance just told the US Marines: “Despite the Schumer stop, [President Trump] will do EVERYTHING he can to make sure you get paid exactly what you deserve!”
“Today I bring greetings from our Commander in Chief, Donald Trump. HE IS PROUD OF YOU!”… pic.twitter.com/Ake92fgoWs
— Eric Dougherty (@EricLDaugh) October 18, 2025
Looking out at the crowd, he then took a jab at DEI, which has plagued the US military during the Biden administration:
.@VP at Camp Pendleton: “It is NOT our diversity that makes us stronger—it is our common goal. This is our common mission. It's the fact that every person here gives green blood to the Marine Corps.” 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/L4weTroQi5
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 18, 2025
Vice President Vance shared his memories of the day he walked into the draft board and showed the same dedication to serving the nation as the men and women gathered on the sunny shores of the Golden State at Camp Pendleton:
.@VP tells Marines at Camp Pendleton about enlisting as an 18-year-old in Ohio: “It was one of the first times in my life that I felt like the country really needed me… I know that's what lifts every one of you.” pic.twitter.com/vQ1KrEp60m
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 18, 2025
He ended much the same way he started, proud to be among his fellow Marines:
WATCH: Vice President @JDVance concludes his speech to a roaring crowd of Marines at Camp Pendleton, California.
“Keep kicking ass. Keep calling names. Semper Fidelis, Marines. Happy 250th birthday!” 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3A6NJy0M9p
— William Martin (@VPCommsDir) October 18, 2025
As the saying goes: “Once a Marine, always a Marine”:
“Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
vice president @JDVance led the U.S. Marines on a weekend trek to Camp Pendleton, continuing to honor his service with those still in uniform. pic.twitter.com/jnRfgeOE3N
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 14, 2025
You can see the full comments below:
Vice President J.D. Vance speaks at the 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps https://t.co/vdZwZYUXiM
— Vice President J.D. Vance (@VP) October 18, 2025
Editor's note: Schumer's completion is here. Instead of putting the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the Radical Democrats forced the government to shut down health care to illegal immigrants. They own it.
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