Vice President JD Vance Joins Navy SEAL Training in Coronado, Pushes Limits in 90‑Minute Workout
Vice President JD Vance participated in a roughly 90‑minute Navy SEAL‑style workout in Coronado, California, on Dec. 22, 2025, joining log carries, ocean rowing, rope climbs and beach runs alongside special operations personnel.
- 90‑minute PT session: Vance worked with SEAL trainers on Dec. 22, 2025, in Coronado, engaging in log carries, ocean work and rope obstacles (Fox News).
- Visual record: Photos released by Vance’s office show him training and posing with blurred faces of service members; video confirms BUD/S‑style drills (NewsX video; Fox News).
- Background: Vance is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran (enlisted 2003, deployed to Iraq in 2005) and framed the visit as respect for special operations standards (AOL).
What happened in Coronado
The images and video document exercises common to the Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) culture: running in surf, heavy group log carries, rope and net climbs, and ocean rowing. Those activities are used to build teamwork, endurance and cold‑water tolerance in candidates.
The sequence captured on Dec. 22 mirrors those drills but does not show the full BUD/S curriculum or formal testing phases. Media coverage and footage indicate the session was a physical‑training (PT) workout alongside special operators rather than a qualification event (NewsX video; Fox News).
Photos, video and operational security
Vance’s office provided photographs showing log carries, beach runs and poses with SEAL trainers in front of an American flag; the faces of active‑duty service members were blurred in released images. A separate video posted by media outlets documents the same SEAL‑style conditioning elements, confirming the type of drills performed (Fox News; NewsX video).
Vance’s military background and motivation
Service history: Vance enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003 and deployed to Iraq in 2005 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, serving in public affairs. He has cited his Marine service in discussions of national security and leadership (Fox News; AOL).
In a post on X, Vance wrote:
“Just finished PT with the Navy SEALs for 90 minutes. They took it easy on me and I still feel like I got hit by a freight train,” praising special operations forces for maintaining the “highest standards anywhere in the world.”
That post frames the visit as both a show of respect and a symbolic engagement with elite troops (Fox News).
Context within the administration’s messaging
The workout fits a broader pattern of administration figures staging public fitness engagements with military units to underscore readiness, discipline and leadership. Observers note these events serve symbolic purposes — showing support for the military while signaling a leadership style focused on physical fitness and toughness.
Questions raised by the visit
- Authorization: Was the workout an invited, Navy‑sanctioned event or arranged privately through Vance’s office? Reporting notes photos came from Vance’s office but does not detail Navy authorization (Fox News).
- Duty status: Were active‑duty SEALs on duty or participating off‑duty for a leadership engagement? The blurred faces suggest operational security concerns.
- Safety and protocols: What measures protected service members and operational readiness during the visit? Available reports do not specify details.
Transparent answers about permissions, safety and scope would clarify whether the event was ceremonial, casual or part of official outreach.
Eyewitness and media evidence
Beyond the photographs supplied by Vance’s office, video published by outlets shows typical SEAL conditioning movements: group log carries, rope climbs, running in surf and small‑boat/ocean rowing. The footage matches drills used in SEAL preparation but does not show formal selection testing or confer any special‑operations credentials on visitors (NewsX video; Fox News; AOL).
Implications for Los Angeles, California
Economic and tourism effects: High‑profile visits to Coronado and San Diego military sites can raise regional interest and boost short‑trip tourism from nearby media markets like Los Angeles.
Veteran and military community relations: Visible engagement with SEALs may resonate with veterans and military families in L.A. while prompting debate about political leaders’ interactions with active units.
Recruiting and public perception: Public displays of SEAL training can shape perceptions of special‑operations careers and influence recruiting conversations, though they may not reflect day‑to‑day selection rigors.
Policy and political optics: For a moderate L.A. readership, the event raises questions about civil‑military norms, access to operational units and whether such visits should be ceremonial or tightly controlled.
Local safety: Beach training requires coordination with local authorities; media presence can affect access and lifesaving plans.
Sources and documentation
Photos and reporting provided by Fox News. Video of SEAL‑style training elements published by NewsX/YouTube. Additional reporting: AOL.
Who to ask next
Local reporters and readers seeking clarification should contact Naval Base Coronado and the Public Affairs Office of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, for details on authorization and protocols. Requests to Vance’s office can clarify whether the event was ceremonial, private or official outreach.
Note: This account is based on photographs and video released to the press and comments from Vice President Vance; further details about authorization and coordination have not been published alongside the images and footage (Fox News; NewsX video; AOL).
