Vice President JD Vance joins Navy SEALs for grueling Coronado workout, pushes limits in 90-minute session
Vice President JD Vance completed a demanding 90-minute workout with U.S. Navy SEALs at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado on Dec. 22, 2025, participating in log carries, ocean rowing, beach runs and obstacle-course drills.
- High-intensity session: Vance joined SEALs for ~90 minutes of PT including log carries, surf rowing and rope-and-net obstacles.
- Public materials released: Photos from the vice president’s office show Vance training; some trainers’ faces were blurred for security.
- Not BUD/S qualification: Media note the workout echoed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) elements but was not formal SEAL training.
- Local implications: The visit may boost interest in veteran fitness programs and prompt local reporting on access, optics and policy links.
What happened at Coronado
On a cool December morning in Coronado, Vance joined a group of U.S. Navy SEALs at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for a media-reported ~90-minute physical training session. He moved through stations including sand sprints, beach log carries, ocean rowing and a rope-and-net obstacle course — exercises designed to test endurance, balance and teamwork.
A NewsX / YouTube video shows Vance running, climbing and carrying heavy training logs in the surf. Photos provided by the vice president’s office and obtained by Fox News show Vance lifting logs, running with SEALs and navigating net climbs; some trainers’ faces were blurred as an operational security measure.
Vance’s social post and messaging
After the workout, Vance posted on X that he had “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.” He praised SEAL standards and thanked them for their service, framing the session as both a personal challenge and a reaffirmation of military values. Media captured the posts via Fox News and The Chosun Ilbo.
“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.” — JD Vance (X)
SEAL-style training and the line between participation and qualification
Reporters noted that while the session echoed elements of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) conditioning — log carries, surf endurance and obstacle courses — Vance did not enroll in or complete BUD/S, the months-long program required for SEAL qualification. BUD/S remains a highly selective, extreme program; the Coronado workout mirrored conditioning drills commonly used across military units for fitness and team building.
Photos, access and security practices
The images released by the vice president’s office were labeled exclusive by Fox News. They show controlled photo release and blurred faces of some trainers — routine operational security measures for special operations personnel. Media accounts do not indicate Vance accessed classified material or operational briefings during the session.
Administration messaging and broader pattern
The visit aligns with administration messaging emphasizing military fitness and visible engagement with troops. Officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have emphasized readiness rhetoric like “fit, not fat,” and other administration figures have been publicly shown engaging in strenuous physical routines. Coverage cites similar appearances, including reports of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. performing intense calisthenics, as part of this visible emphasis on fitness (The Chosun Ilbo).
Optically, senior officials training with elite units can convey solidarity with service members, highlight personal toughness, and reinforce policy priorities around readiness. Journalists should probe whether such sessions are routine PR engagements, how coordination with military commands occurs, and whether any special access or exceptions are granted.
Implications for Fresno, California
Economic impact
Fresno County — with a sizable veteran population and businesses serving military families — could see modest indirect effects: increased interest in veteran fitness programs, private training services and related commerce (gyms, outdoor trainers). Military-related tourism operators that book trips to Coronado or veteran-focused packages may see marginal upticks, though immediate economic impacts on Fresno are likely small.
Political consequences
Local leaders and veterans groups in Fresno may offer mixed responses: praise for emphasis on readiness or criticism as political optics. The visit could surface in local political forums and veterans’ organizations when discussing federal veterans policy, troop welfare and priorities that affect Central Valley residents.
Social effects
Veterans and active-duty families in Fresno may feel recognized or encouraged. Community organizations focused on rehabilitation, employment and mental-health initiatives could leverage the event to promote services. Schools and ROTC programs might use the moment to discuss service, fitness and leadership with students.
Cultural relevance
Fresno’s veteran community often values service and discipline; Vance’s Marine background and public workout with SEALs may resonate culturally. Simultaneously, Fresno’s diverse priorities — healthcare, education, local economy — mean the single event may register differently across constituencies.
Practical applications for residents
Local fitness and veteran service groups could organize events, workshops or panels on military fitness standards, transition assistance and veterans’ benefits. Residents seeking more information can consult local VA offices, veteran service organizations and community colleges offering veteran support services.
Questions for local reporters and officials
- How are visits coordinated with military bases and local commands, and what oversight exists for access and photography?
- Will the administration tie appearances to policy announcements affecting veterans or military families in Fresno?
- Do local veterans’ groups feel the visit advances discussions on readiness, mental-health support or employment programs?
Sources and media artifacts
- Fox News: Exclusive photos and reporting on Vance’s workout.
- NewsX / YouTube video of the Coronado workout.
- The Chosun Ilbo (English): Coverage summarizing the event and administration context.
