JD Vance’s words were meant to celebrate his Marine roots, but instead they lit up the internet.
Others are reading now
The vice president’s offhand remark about why he really wanted the job has triggered outrage and renewed questions about where his loyalties lie.
Celebration turns political
Vice President JD Vance returned to his Marine roots over the weekend, visiting Camp Pendleton for the Marines’ 250th anniversary.
The event featured fighter jets, Navy ships, helicopters, and even live artillery fire, making it the largest military showcase in the US in a decade.
Vance, who served four years in the Marines and deployed to Iraq in 2005, took the stage to address the crowd. But it was his explanation for running for office that quickly caught attention online.
‘To serve Trump’
“You know, I’ve been asked many times why did I want to run for, and become, vice president of the United States,” Vance began. “I wanted to serve our wonderful commander in chief, President Donald J. Trump, and I know we’re proud of him. 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.”
Also read
The remark drew laughter at the event but confusion and criticism across social media, with many accusing Vance of putting loyalty to Trump above loyalty to the country.
Online backlash
“Not to serve America, people. To serve Donald Trump,” one user posted.
Another wrote, “Vance’s ‘service’ is just another loyalty oath to the cult leader, not our Constitution.”
Others argued that his comments dishonored his Marine background. “
JD Vance’s admission of serving Trump over America is a disgrace,” one critic said. “His oath is to the nation, not a single man.”
Also read
The high-profile celebration wasn’t without incident. During a live-fire display, a 155-millimeter shell detonated prematurely over Interstate 5, scattering shrapnel that struck two vehicles from Vance’s security detail.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the decision to fire live rounds near a highway, saying, “Donald Trump and JD Vance put lives at risk to put on a show. If you want to honor our troops, open the government and pay them.”
No injuries were reported, but the scare added to an already controversial day for the vice president.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation