On Saturday morning, the picturesque coastal town of San Clemente became the focal point of a significant conflict between California state officials and the Trump administration. This dispute revolved around a preplanned live-fire military exercise occurring at the nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The exercise prompted the intermittent closure of a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5, affecting traffic flow and local businesses.
The northern edge of the freeway closure was positioned just outside the city limits of San Clemente. By mid-morning, traffic came to a standstill on the southbound lanes about half a mile before the El Camino Real exit, which is the second-to-last exit before the closure point. Prior to the closure, drivers encountered flashing signs at the three previous freeway exits—Avenida Palizada, Avenida Pico, and Avenida Vista Hermosa—warning them of the impending disruption.
Despite the warnings, some daring motorists attempted to navigate the jam by making illegal 90-degree turns on the freeway. They aimed to exit at the vacant El Camino Real on-ramp, only to face a minimum 30-minute delay. Ultimately, a California Highway Patrol officer intervened, blocking access to the on-ramp to restore order.
San Clemente City Councilmember Mark Enmeier expressed frustration regarding the uncoordinated freeway closure. He stated that the announcement caught him by surprise, as he learned about it simultaneously with many residents through the Orange County Sheriff’s Department's Instagram post. “There was no coordination with any local officials on this whatsoever,” Enmeier lamented. He pointed out that if any coordination did occur, he was not informed.
Enmeier described the live-ammunition event as a “show of force on behalf of a few individuals,” suggesting that it was likely timed to coincide with a day of widespread protests. He further highlighted the financial implications of the freeway closure, stating, “Not only are we paying as taxpayers for these shows of force, we’re also losing money. This is a major arterial road, and there’s no other way down to San Diego from Orange County without taking an hour-and-a-half detour.”
The consequences of the freeway closure were also felt by local business owners. At the SC Cafe in San Clemente, owner Joey Abi-Loutfi noted that he had heard about the impending traffic issues from the news a day prior, leaving him uncertain about how to react. “That’s the give-and-take of owning a restaurant right next to a freeway ramp,” Abi-Loutfi remarked. He expressed his discontent regarding the shutdown, which led to a decline in business due to the government’s display of military might. “What a great use of funding,” he quipped sarcastically, reflecting on the situation.
By mid-afternoon, it appeared that word of the freeway closure had spread among motorists, leading to an easing of traffic conditions in and around San Clemente. However, alternate routes such as the 91 and 15 freeways, which serve as inland alternatives to the 5 between Los Angeles and San Diego, were heavily congested as drivers sought other means to navigate the area.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the White House for its lack of coordination and failure to share safety information in advance of the Marine Corps 250th anniversary celebration, which featured Vice President JD Vance. State officials cited safety reasons for closing the 5, but the situation raised significant concerns about communication and planning among local and federal entities.
