Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 18, 2025

VP travel pool report #3/San Diego America’sMarines250 event

Good afternoon,

Vice President Vance’s motorcade began rolling from the RON to the demonstration at Camp Pendleton at 3:40pm local. The pool didn't see the vice president enter his vehicle. The route took the motorcade along I-5.

Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance arrived at the demonstration site - Camp Pendleton's Red Beach -- just before 1pm local for the America’s Marines 250 event. The pool didn’t see the vice president exit. Camp Pendleton spans some 125,000 acres. More background, here.

The Vance’s were being briefed by staff on the operation when the press arrived at the viewing stage.

The vice president is wearing a marine green jacket and ligh-colored khakis. The second lady wore brown slacks and a cream-colored, patterned long-sleeve blouse and sunglasses. They’re viewing the demonstration atop a seven-ton military truck.

This is the largest such exercise in at least a decade, according to US Marine Brian Coleman, a subject specialist provided to narrate and answer questions for the press pool.

Four F-15s flew over, parachuters landed, and the pool could see five Navy Seals swimming ashore and ducking their heads out of the ocean as they emerged. Vance pointed at the Seals as they reached the beach.

The vice president covered his eyes from the sun as F-18s flew overhead. The F-18s launched off of the USS Teddy Roosevelt, about 10 to 12 nautical miles away, according to Coleman. The USS Boxer was the nearest to shore. A variation of amphibious ships and destroyers are visible from the ocean and some have arrived ashore.

A series of explosions have gone off in the simulated village as well. The simulated village has green and tan makeshift homes, roughly the size of an average house shed.

Three MH-60 helicopters hovered over the water to drop additional seals.

The event is ongoing.

The vice president is scheduled to deliver remarks to commemorate the Marine's anniversary later this afternoon.

VP travel pool report #3 (update) San Diego Americas Marines250 event

Marine Coleman clarifies that the jets were F18s and F35’s, but not F15s. And the B1 are fixed wing aircraft, Coleman says.

VP Travel Pool Report #4 -- San Diego/America'sMarines250 event

The amphibious operation wrapped with a formation of the aircraft that was used throughout the demonstration making a pass over the shore/viewing site.

The vice president's motorcade left the initial demonstration site at 2:02pm. It arrived at a helicopter launch pad after a short drive. The pool didn't see him board the helicopter that he flew on.

The pool boarded it's helicopter at 2:09pm. Just before lift, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his children boarded. He pointed and laughed with them during the short flight. The helicopter lifted at 2:17pm and landed at 2:22pm at another part of the base.

The helicopter carrying the Vance's landed at 2:36pm. The pool photographer was on the helicopter with the vice president. Print pool was told that there were space constraints. According to photos, the Vance's held hands for almost the entirety of the helicopter flight. At one point, the vice president looked at his phone, according to the photos.

The vice president entered his motorcade and it took a short drive, arriving at the site at 2:44pm.

Parachuters landed near the speaking site. Several speakers spoke ahead of Vance, including Navy Secretary John Phelan and Hegseth.

Secretary Hegseth at one point seemed to make reference about the recent US military strikes in the Caribbean.

"From the halls of Montezula to the just as they are right now in the Caribbean. Let's hope the wrong people don't FAFO around there, Hegseth said.

Hegseth Otter audio here:
Hegseth
https://otter.ai/u/sqeoRKmCP_sdM5IjKIerueNDrZ8

Vice President Vance's nearly 30 minute speech revolved around the history of the branch as well as his time in the service and how it shaped him.

"The United States Marine Corps has broken the backs of empires. You've toppled tyrants, you've hanged pirates and hunted down America's foes across the seven seas. And Pete, it turns out we're hunting some pirates todays aren't we?" Vance said at one point.

"I remember that Gunny and I remember a young marine that was younger than I was -- a Chase knows who Im talking about -- a Puerto Rican marine who grew up in New York City. A man I thought I had nothing in common with, but who I learned bled Marine Corp green just like I did and who came to my inauguration as vice president of the United States."

"I remember a marine I served with a guy who's political beliefs you may call far left, but despite the craziness of our politics today remains one of my best friends and is a man I would trust with my life."

Vance here
https://otter.ai/u/uLkF23YAzmMILEhdQK6yZzNOfYw

He concluded his remarks around 3:55pm local. Creed's "Higher" played as he concluded. Some in the audience tossed their hats at the vice president and he signed them and tossed them back.

The pool didn't have the opportunity to ask the vice president questions, though it asked. His motorcade departed separately from the pool. He has no other public events this evening.