VP Vance Addressing His Fellow Marines in Rousing Remarks During 250th Birthday Celebration

By Becca Lower | 8:05 PM on October 18, 2025
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Unless you've been hiding your head under a whole beachfront worth of sand, you've heard about the second edition of "No Kings" protests being held across the country on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. While that might have been the main event for some today, it wasn't for a great group along a very special beach in California--Camp Pendleton--where the United States Marine Corps assembled to celebrate its 250th birthday with Vice President JD Vance standing alongside them.

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The program title for the anniversary of the 1775 founding of the branch is "Marine 250: From Sea to Shore." 

Also there, instead of loitering with the loser Boomer types at the protest events, was my colleague over at Townhall.com, Kurt Schlichter (although he is retired Army):

On Inauguration Day this past January, as RedState previously wrote, Vance earned a distinction that no other Vice President of the United States can claim--the nation's first Marine to hold the office. 

READ MORE: Hot Takes: 'No Kings' Protests Across the Country (and World) Highlight Rebels Without a Clue

Country performer John Rich led the Marines in attendance in singing the Marines' Hymn:

Also attending alongside Vice President Vance were Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith

JD and his wife, the second lady, Usha Vance, arrived at Camp Pendleton around 1 PM Pacific:

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Navy SEALs, parachutists, and others in the Navy and Marines took part in a demonstration "beach clearing operation," as Lieutenant Colonel Pirek explained in a preview:

The vice president and Usha got a chance to watch the demonstration close at hand:

Earlier on Saturday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom tried to poke his nose where it didn't belong in regards to the activities at Camp Pendleton, as my colleague Jim Thompson wrote.

SEE: Newsom and His Comms Team Are Lying Again, This Time About the US Marines

Just before the vice president took the stage, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke to the Marines, praising both the commander in chief and his second in command:

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"We get 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 that you make, and the sacrifices that all of your families make."

"We know no Marine serves alone. they serve alongside a family," he continued. "Someone else who understands that is Vice President Vance, who is right there alongside President Trump. He himself has made the same type of sacrifices that you have."

"Your vice president enlisted after high school in the Marine Corps, and served in Iraq. Your vice president knows and shares the dedication of this force, and he represents you in Washington always," he added. "I have the honor of getting to watch Vice President Vance - day in and day out - live the values of the Marine Corps, speak up and tell the truth, have courage...It's an incredible thing to watch!"

VP Vance was greeted as he took the stage with a rousing dose of the traditional Marine "Oorah!"

Vance passed along a personal message from President Trump, that he's proud of them, he loves them, and he is going to make sure that despite the Schumer Shutdown, they will be paid "exactly as [they] deserve."

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After taking a glance at the crowd, he then took a jab at the DEI that plagued the U.S. military during the Biden administration:

VP Vance recounted his recollections of the day he stepped into the recruitment office, and made the same dedication to serve the nation as the men and women amassed on the sunny shores of the Golden State at Camp Pendleton:

He concluded in much the same way as he started--with pride in being among his fellow Marines:

Like they say, "Once a Marine, always a Marine":

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You can watch the full remarks below:

Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.

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Becca Lower

Becca Lower is Weekend Content Editor and a contributor with RedState, and formerly worked at IJR.com as a writer and editor. She grew up outside Cincinnati, OH, in former Speaker John Boehner's district, and currently lives in Mesa, AZ. She loves alternative rock music, baseball, and indie films...a lot.

Find her on Twitter at @BeccaJLower. Follow her on Truth Social at @beccajlower. Direct all tips/marriage proposals to [email protected].

Read more by Becca Lower

Tags:

DONALD TRUMP JD VANCE MILITARY

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