Vice President JD Vance has sparked concern online after explaining why he wanted to run for office.
President Donald Trump's number two visited the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton - located in California, between LA and San Diego - on Saturday (October 18), and the former Marine shared his motivation for taking on one of the most powerful jobs in the world.
Vance, who served four years in the Marines and deployed to Iraq in 2005, attended to the Marines’ 250th anniversary - and there was no expense spared as celebrations included fighter jets, Navy vessels, helicopters and even live artillery fired from a towed howitzer.
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It was the largest such demonstration in the continental US in a decade, and where better to reveal why you wanted to become vice president?
“You know, I've been asked many times why did I want to run for, and become, vice president of the United States - and there's a lot of answers, of course, to that question,” he told the crowd.
“I wanted to serve our wonderful commander in chief, President Donald J. Trump, and I know we're proud of him.
“And, of course, I wanted to serve the American people and make their lives better, but really, deep down, I wanted the commandant of the Marine Corps to have to salute a member of the E4 Mafia, and now he has to.”
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Yes, that was his answer and it left people bemused on social media.
"Not to serve America, people. To serve Donald Trump," one user wrote.
Another blasted: “Yeah—Vance's 'service' is just another loyalty oath to the cult leader, not our Constitution. Same dangerous vibe with Hegseth's Christian nationalism masquerading as patriotism. America first, not Trump first! #VanceUnfit.”
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While a third added: “JD Vance’s admission of serving Trump over America is a disgrace. As VP, his oath is to the nation, not a single man. This loyalty swap mocks the Marine Corps’ values he claims to honor. Time to prioritize citizens, not cult leaders. #Vance #AmericaFirst #Trump.”
The event itself didn’t go entirely to plan either... as California Highway Patrol confirmed that shrapnel from a 155-millimeter shell detonated overhead prematurely, striking two vehicles that were part of Vance’s protective detail on Interstate 5.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Californian Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed the decision to fire live rounds over a busy highway.
"Donald Trump and JD Vance put lives at risk to put on a show," he wrote on Twitter.
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"If you want to honor our troops, open the government and pay them."
Topics: JD Vance, Donald Trump
Joe Yates