Newly released photographs have captured United States Vice President JD Vance participating in a demanding physical training session with elite Navy SEALs in California. The images, which emerged on Monday, December 23, 2025, underscore the Trump administration's consistent emphasis on military preparedness and direct leadership engagement with the armed forces.
Vice President Endures Intense SEALs Regimen
The photos, obtained and published by Fox News Digital, show Vice President Vance fully immersed in a 90-minute physical training (PT) session at a facility in Coronado, California. The gruelling workout involved the vice president carrying heavy logs, rowing in the ocean, running on the beach, and navigating a challenging rope obstacle course alongside a team of SEALs.
Sharing his experience on the social media platform X, 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." Sources familiar with the visit confirmed his participation in multiple stages of the SEALs' signature training. Notably, the identities of most personnel in the photos were protected, with their faces deliberately blurred.
Marine Veteran Praises Elite Warriors
Following the exhausting session, Vice President Vance took the opportunity to publicly commend America's special operations forces. He described them as being among the best in the world.
"I am so grateful to all of our warriors who keep us safe and keep the highest standards anywhere in the world," Vance stated in his post. The Navy SEALs are universally recognized as one of the US military's most elite units, renowned for their extreme physical standards and execution of high-stakes missions, from counterterrorism to complex maritime operations.
Military Service Shapes Security Outlook
The vice president's personal connection to the military adds significant context to this event. JD Vance is a US Marine Corps veteran who served during the Iraq War. He enlisted in 2003 and was deployed to Iraq in 2005 with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, working in public affairs.
He has frequently cited his military service as a fundamental influence on his perspectives regarding national security, the human cost of conflict, and the profound responsibility leaders bear when considering military action.
This public display of participation aligns with a broader message from officials within President Donald Trump's administration, who consistently stress the importance of physical fitness across all ranks of the armed forces. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has been a vocal proponent, insisting that troops must be "fit, not fat," a standard he applies to senior leadership as well. Hegseth has also joined service members for PT during his global visits to military units.
Political observers note that Vice President Vance's hands-on training with the SEALs reinforces the administration's focused themes of discipline, operational readiness, and visible, tangible support for military personnel.
