California governor says Trump putting ego over responsibility' as military show shuts highway

"The president is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety, the Democratic governor said in a statement. Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn't just wrong it's dangerous. Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with isn't strength it's reckless, it's disrespectful, and it's beneath the office he holds."

"US Marine officials said there was nothing unsafe about the exercise at Camp Pendleton, where firing artillery is a routine occurrence, and that it was unnecessary to disrupt traffic on Interstate 5, which is the main highway along the Pacific coast between San Diego and Los Angeles. The California Highway Patrol said in a statement the military event would involve live ammunition being discharged by the federal government over the freeway and made the call to temporarily close a portion of the freeway due to the safety risk and distractions to drivers."

"The event celebrated the US marines' 250th anniversary and included a live-fire amphibious capabilities demonstration at Red Beach in Oceanside in north-western San Diego county. Vic-president JD Vance, a former enlisted marine who served in Iraq, spoke at the event that was attended by thousands of marines, sailors, veterans and families, while defense secretary Pete Hegseth also delivered remarks."

A live-fire military demonstration at Camp Pendleton discharged artillery rounds over a busy stretch of Interstate 5, prompting the California Highway Patrol to temporarily close part of the freeway due to safety risks and driver distraction. Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the demonstration as dangerous and an inappropriate use of military force, criticizing the president for putting ego over responsibility. US Marine officials defended the exercise as routine and safe and said traffic disruption was unnecessary. The event marked the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary and featured an amphibious capabilities demonstration attended by Vice-President JD Vance, defense officials, marines, veterans, and families.

Read at www.theguardian.com