When Vice President JD Vance stood before roaring F-35s and artillery fire at California’s Camp Pendleton on 18 October 2025, it was not merely a patriotic display — it was a return to his origins. Once a Marine corporal documenting the Iraq War, Vance is now the second-most powerful man in the US, using the symbolism of military might to project strength amid rising political discord. The event drew thousands of protesters across California, as they claimed the demonstration was an unnecessary show of force that politicised the military and overshadowed pressing domestic issues, including the ongoing government shutdown and public safety concerns. From Vance’s perspective, the demonstration was both a celebration of the Marines’ legacy and a signal of federal resolve. He described the

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