US Vice President JD Vance recently ventured into the world military training, sharing glimpses of a gruelling workout with United States Navy SEALs at their base in Coronado, California.
The images, posted on December 22, showed Vance jogging along the beach, carrying heavy logs, climbing nets and posing in front of an American flag and these visuals went viral online. The 90-minute session was designed to mirror the intense physical conditioning drills that SEALs routinely undergo.
Vice President Vance trains with @USNavy Seals at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado 📸 pic.twitter.com/AClJaxCdo0
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) December 23, 2025
Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, described the experience as punishing despite the elite unit easing the pace for him. He wrote on X, “Just finished PT with the Navy SEALs for 90 minutes (I’ll post some photos when I get them). They took it easy on me and I still feel like I got hit by a freight train.So grateful to all of our warriors who keep us safe and keep the highest standards anywhere in the world.”
JD Vance’s training
The training included classic SEAL exercises such as running on soft sand, climbing ropes and nets, and carrying logs, all packed into a compact but exhausting routine on Coronado’s beaches. These drills are standard for SEAL candidates and are widely regarded as among the toughest physical challenges in the US military.
Coronado itself holds a legendary status within American armed forces. It is home to the SEALs’ Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) programme, considered one of the most brutal military training courses in the world. Its infamous “Hell Week” pushes candidates to the limits of physical and mental endurance, with only about 20% typically completing the programme. The Navy SEALs have become one of the most recognisable special operations forces globally since it got established in 1962.
‘Do something about grocery prices’
Netizens slammed JD Vance over sharing the pictures. A user noted, “Cool, man—but when you’re done cosplaying, can you and your boss do something about housing and grocery prices? Thanks.”
Another added, “The SEALs keep us safe. JD Vance keeps himself photographed.” “This administration loves their photo shoots,” claimed another user.
A netizen claimed, “Nice cosplay as a Navy SEAL. Leadership isn’t about photo ops, it’s about fixing the mess at home.” “A pathetic vanity project masquerading as ‘training.’ JD Vance playing dress-up with the Navy SEALs while federal workers go unpaid during his administration’s shutdown is a slap in the face to real service members. It’s not a show of strength; it’s a desperate photo op for a Vice President who cares more about his military ‘aesthetic’ than actually governing,” added another.
