Vice President JD Vance just got a taste of what it means to train with the Navy's toughest warriors, and he’s still reeling from the experience.
On Monday, Vance joined an intense 90-minute beach training session with Navy SEALs at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California, showcasing his respect for the armed forces while aligning with the Trump administration's push to Make America Healthy Again, as the New York Post reports.
This wasn’t a leisurely jog on the shore; the workout included punishing drills like running, rope-climbing, and hauling heavy logs across the sand.
As a Marine veteran who served from 2003 to 2007, including a deployment to Iraq in 2005, Vance is no stranger to military rigor, yet even he admitted the SEALs held back.
“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,” Vance said, tipping his hat to the elite warriors who make up the Navy’s special operations forces.
Let’s be real. When SEALs “take it easy,” it’s still a level of grit most of us can’t fathom, and Vance’s humility here is a refreshing nod to the sacrifices these heroes make daily.
The training unfolded at Coronado, the storied site of the SEALs’ Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL program, infamous for its “Hell Week” where only about 20% of candidates survive the cut.
Vance stood out in photos as the only participant sporting a beard, a small act of defiance against a recent policy by War Secretary Pete Hegseth restricting most service members from facial hair.
Speaking of which, Vance quipped, “When I was a young United States Marine, I did not have a beard. I am now the vice president. So I get to do what I want to do.”
Hegseth, known for his own social media posts of workouts with troops, has pushed a hard line with slogans like “no more beardos” and “fit, not fat,” but Vance’s bearded bravado shows not everyone’s marching to that drum.
Still, let’s not miss the forest for the trees. Vance’s participation isn’t about facial hair; it’s a symbol of his deeper connection to the military, shaped by formative years in the Marines that inform his America First stance on foreign policy.
While many SEALs in the images had their faces blurred for security, Vance’s visibility -- beard and all -- puts a public face on leadership that values physical readiness alongside policy.
This event ties directly into the Trump administration’s broader initiative to prioritize health and strength, a counter to progressive agendas that some argue have softened national resolve.
Vance’s willingness to sweat it out with the best of the best sends a message: leadership isn’t just about suits and speeches -- it’s about getting in the trenches, or in this case, the sand, to inspire a stronger, tougher America.
His grueling session with the SEALs stands as a powerful reminder that true leadership means embodying the strength and sacrifice of those who defend our nation.
