United States Vice President JD Vance has ignited widespread discussion after publicly participating in a demanding 90-minute physical training session with the elite US Navy SEALs. The event took place at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California, a hallowed ground for special forces training, and has fuelled conversations about the symbolism and political messaging behind such displays of military fitness by senior leaders.
Vance's Gruelling Coronado Workout with Elite Warriors
On 22 December, Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, took to the microblogging platform X to share images and reflections from his intense workout. The visuals showed the Vice President engaged in classic SEAL conditioning drills, including running on sand, climbing ropes and nets, and carrying heavy logs alongside the special forces personnel.
The entire regimen was compressed into a single, gruelling 90-minute session on the beaches of Coronado. In his post, 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." He expressed profound gratitude, adding, "So grateful to all of our warriors who keep us safe and keep the highest standards anywhere in the world!"
In a separate post the same day, he reiterated the physical toll, stating, "Even though the special forces members went easy on me, my entire body aches as if I were hit by a freight train."
The Significance of Coronado and the SEAL Legacy
The choice of location was deeply symbolic. Coronado is not an ordinary base; it is the home of the infamous Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) programme. BUD/S is globally renowned as one of the most punishing military training courses, with its 'Hell Week' pushing candidates to extreme physical and mental limits. Historically, only about 20% of candidates complete the course.
The Navy SEALs, established in 1962, are among the most recognisable US special operations forces. They have played pivotal roles in major modern conflicts, including the Iraq War, operations against the Islamic State, and the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. The investment in training a single SEAL is estimated at a staggering $2 million, underscoring the scale and intensity of their 62-week programme.
A Broader Trend in the Political Arena
Vance's public fitness display appears to be part of a broader pattern within the current Trump administration, where senior officials are increasingly seen engaging directly with troops. This practice is often framed by allies as a demonstration of "respecting soldiers."
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly trained with service members, including a session with the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany earlier this year. Similarly, 71-year-old Health and Welfare Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gained attention for completing a challenge of 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups at the Pentagon gym.
These actions align with the administration's broader "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative, which explicitly links individual physical fitness with national strength and readiness.
Vance's Military Background and Personal Standards
JD Vance's connection to the military is personal. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps after high school, serving from 2003 to 2007 with a deployment to Iraq in 2005. He has often cited this period as formative, particularly in shaping his "America First" foreign policy outlook.
Interestingly, during the Coronado training, Vance was the only participant pictured with a beard. He has openly praised Defence Secretary Hegseth for enforcing high standards in the armed forces. Addressing his own beard earlier this year, Vance remarked with a hint of humour, "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."
The Vice President's intense workout with the SEALs, therefore, serves as more than just a personal fitness test. It is a potent piece of political imagery, reinforcing his veteran credentials, connecting with the military community, and visually endorsing an ideology that equates personal physical vigour with national resilience.
