Unpacking claim Trump planned ‘show of force’ by firing missiles into California during protests

Editor’s Note: On Oct. 18, 2025, a stretch of the Interstate 5 freeway in California closed down and live artillery fired overhead following the initial publication of this report, archived here. We have updated this article to include the events that actually occurred on Oct. 18, while we look further into reports of shrapnel hitting a California Highway Patrol vehicle.

• An article by self-described “pro-democracy” media outlet MeidasTouch, which cited unnamed sources, reported that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was planning a “show of force” by launching missiles into California on Oct. 18, 2025, the same day as planned “No Kings” protests, noting that Interstate 5 could be shut down.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom shared the claim on X, writing, “Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military.”
• The U.S. Marines posted a statement on their website that said “all training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols” and that “no public highways or transportation routes will be closed.” Newsom later acknowledged this statement on X.
• The Los Angeles Times reported it was Newsom’s office that considered the closure of the interstate to accommodate the event.
• Despite earlier claims to the contrary, the freeway was closed on the day of the demonstration. According to Newsom’s office, it was the governor’s decision.
• During the display, the California Highway Patrol reported shrapnel from ordnance that exploded prematurely hit a patrol vehicle that was positioned on the freeway. No injuries were reported.

As activists planned another “No Kings” protest on Oct. 18, 2025, to voice discontent with the administration of Republican U.S. President Donald Trump, a rumor spread on social media that the president was planning a “show of force” by launching missiles over California. 

The rumor claimed the administration planned on closing Interstate 5 “to shoot out missiles from ships” and into Camp Pendleton, a training facility for the Marines about 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles. 

Users across social media sites such as Instagram (archived), X (archived) and Facebook (archived) shared the claim. Some suggested Trump planned on using the excuse of a military showcase in order to intimidate “No Kings” protesters, citing the administration’s attempts to characterize the protests as anti-American. 

Many Snopes readers emailed us to ask about the veracity of this rumor. 

On Oct. 15, 2025, the Marines posted a statement on their official website announcing “a live-fire Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration at Red Beach, Camp Pendleton” that would be followed by “a community Beach Bash at Del Mar Beach on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, to mark the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday and America’s Semiquincentennial.”

The statement said “the capabilities demonstration will feature integrated Navy and Marine Corps operations across air, land, and sea” and assured the public that “all training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols.”

The statement also confirmed “no public highways or transportation routes will be closed” and that the White House would be capturing the event on film for a Nov. 9 television broadcast.

Vice President JD Vance’s press secretary Taylor Van Kirk told Snopes via email that Newsom was “spreading Fake News” and fearmongering. She added: “Vice President Vance is eager to be in California on Saturday celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Corps alongside United States Marines.”

Despite claims to the contrary, the freeway was indeed closed on the day of the event. According to reporting by ABC News, Newsom’s office “said it was notified by the federal government Saturday morning that the military planned to shoot live artillery over the heavily traveled freeway, prompting highway patrol officers to temporarily close the freeway.”

A report from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) described an incident during the demonstration “in which metal shrapnel from explosive ordnance fired over the Interstate 5 freeway detonated overhead prematurely, striking and damaging a CHP patrol vehicle.” 

CHP contacted the Marine Corps, “who then canceled firing additional live ordnance over the freeway, and the area was swept for further evaluation.” 

The X account for Newsom’s office shared news of the incident and added, “This is what the White House thought was fine to fly over civilians on a major freeway. Thankfully, the Governor closed it.”

Snopes followed up with the White House officials who claimed Newsom was “spreading fake news” for comment on the events that occurred during the demonstration.

How the ‘show of force’ rumor started

The initial rumors about highway shutdowns, as well as the demonstration being deemed a “vanity parade” and “show of force” from Trump, stemmed from an article by self-described “pro-democracy” media outlet MeidasTouch, which cited unnamed sources in its reporting.  

The article stated: “JD Vance is expected to be present and intends to lead the parade. This show of military force and I-5 closures if the plan is completed will also be taking place during the No Kings Protests, which are expected to be very large across California cities and the rest of the country.”

A variety of popular media outlets, including The Independent, Yahoo, Newsweek and The Daily Beast, shared the reporting from the MeidasTouch article. 

On the evening of Oct. 15, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vocal detractor of Trump who has said the president has “an unhinged California obsession,” reposted the MeidasTouch article on X (archived). 

Newsom wrote, “Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military. PUT ASIDE YOUR VANITY PARADE AND PAY OUR TROOPS INSTEAD,” referring to the ongoing government shutdown. 

The Los Angeles Times reported it was Newsom’s office that considered the closure of the interstate to accommodate the event, stating the office “was weighing the closure amid safety concerns about reports that Navy ships would fire live ordnance over the freeway onto the base during the Marine Corps’ 250th-anniversary celebration.”

Later that evening, the X account for Newsom’s press office shared the same article and posted (archived), “This would be an absurd show of force, and totally uncalled for during a government shutdown when members of the military cannot even get a paycheck.”

However, on the morning of Oct. 16 Newsom’s press office reposted (archived) another user on X who pointed out the Marines’ statement on the matter. 

Newsom’s press office responded, “We’re relieved the White House backed off its plans to shut down a major interstate. Now that I-5 will stay open, we hope the Trump Administration applies that same common sense to reopening the federal government!”

The New York Times reported on the discrepancies between information coming from the Trump administration and Newsom’s office, writing the incident was “the latest example of how communications have broken down between Mr. Newsom and the Trump administration over all manner of activities.”

Further perpetuating the rumors were similarities to “No Kings” protests that occurred in June 2025, at the same time Trump held a military parade in Washington, D.C.