EXCLUSIVE: Trump May Launch Missiles from Warships into California this Friday and Saturday as Part of “Vanity Parade” Sources tell MeidasTouch the White House will shut down portions of the I-5 for Vice President JD Vance’s Marine Corps spectacle during No Kings Protests, triggering chaos, gridlock, and outrage. Aaron Parnas and MeidasTouch Network Oct 16 Photo Credit: Below the Sky / Shutterstock.com Sources tell MeidasTouch the White House will shut down portions of the I-5 for Vice President JD Vance’s Marine Corps spectacle during No Kings Protests, triggering chaos, gridlock, and outrage amid the government shutdown. MeidasTouch has learned from several sources that the White House has plans to close major sections of Interstate 5 for this Friday and Saturday. The Trump administration is apparently finalizing plans for two days of events under the pretext of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. Sources close to MeidasTouch describe the closure as part of a “vanity parade” that may involve Navy warships shooting live missiles into Camp Pendleton as a “show of force.” 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. The major road closures coincide with a federal government closure, leaving thousands of Marines and federal employees unpaid even as they are ordered to support the festivities. Interstate 5, Southern California’s economic backbone, carries more than 80,000 daily travelers and moves $94 million in freight every day between San Diego and Orange Counties. Just north of Oceanside, over 65,000 vehicles cross the county line daily—half of them work-related. Experts warn the closure could spark gridlock stretching from Dana Point to Del Mar, with delays of up to eight hours in each direction. The ripple effects could cripple emergency response times, business operations, and regional supply chains, costing an estimated $8.2 million in lost visitor spending per day. Local officials say the event was announced with scant notice, no coordination, and zero transparency. Unconfirmed reports suggest the Pentagon may authorize live naval ordnance demonstrations off the Southern California coast during the celebration. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed to MeidasTouch he is working with local partners to minimize what would be “a massive disruption, and reckless disregard for California’s infrastructure and communities.” His press office commented on the story on X, writing, “This would be an absurd show of force, and totally uncalled for during a government shutdown…” Governor Newsom directly responded to MeidasTouch’s story on X as well, 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,” urging the administration to “PUT ASIDE YOUR VANITY PARADE.” The White House has yet to confirm or deny the plans, and neither the Navy nor Marine Corps has provided risk assessments or community safety information. Residents near Oceanside and San Clemente have expressed alarm at the lack of communication, especially given the proximity of dense suburban neighborhoods to Camp Pendleton’s firing ranges. The timing adds insult to injury for service members. With Congress still deadlocked, much of the federal government remains unfunded. President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday directing the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid despite the federal government shutdown. The very Marines being celebrated have been turned into political pawns as the shutdown battle unfolds against what one senior defense official called “a taxpayer-funded campaign reel.” A senior state transportation official told MeidasTouch, “Closing down a critical corridor during a shutdown, for a vanity event, without even consulting state authorities? It’s indefensible.” As Southern California braces for the fallout, one thing is clear: the Vice President’s “vanity parade” risks turning a patriotic commemoration into a logistical and political fiasco, leaving taxpayers, commuters, and troops caught in the crossfire. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.