Vice President JD Vance visits San Diego

SAN DIEGO — Vice President JD Vance visited San Diego over the Fourth of July weekend, attending an event and dining in the area. 

The Vice President attended the Claremont Institute’s 2025 Statesmanship Award dinner in his honor Saturday night in San Diego. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk emceed the dinner, and general admission for the event started at $2,500 per seat. 

Protestors gathered outside of Soichi Sushi on Adams Avenue in University Heights on Sunday, where they said Vance was dining. Videos recorded by witnesses showed Vance’s motorcade being escorted out of the neighborhood alongside several police officers, with the crowd “booing” as it drove off. 

Soichi, a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant that releases reservations only 60 days in advance. The visit required street closures and a large police presence that lasted about three hours.

“I heard like, all these cop cars. And when we came outside… one hour turned into two turned into three,” said Kanye Nixon, a neighbor who witnessed the scene.

As word spread, protesters gathered outside the restaurant. San Diego police said the demonstration remained peaceful with no arrests or citations issued.

Nixon said he supported both the vice president’s right to dine out and the protesters’ right to demonstrate, though he found the extended street closure disruptive.

“I do feel bad for the vice president. I think he should be able to eat some sushi in peace,” Nixon said. “But it was a bit hectic for them to take three hours of our day to block off this street.”

Neighbor Jason Martinez was more critical, citing the timing of the visit as Texas dealt with devastating floods.

“JD Vance has every right to go out with his family and have a good time. However, the optics are just horrendous,” Martinez said. “My heart filled for what was happening in Texas yesterday, and you’re here in California causing this hubbub.”

Vance has visited San Diego County several times, for both business and personal reasons, with his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, being from the area. She was raised in the Rancho Peñasquitos community and attended Mt. Carmel High School. 

Restaurant representatives did not respond to requests for comment. The restaurant’s Yelp page has received a lot of attention and was put on monitor by Yelp. Messages of support were tied to a wishing tree outside the restaurant. 

Neighbor Colin Kenley, who wasn’t present during the protest, said he supports residents’ right to demonstrate.

“I think we should all stand up for what we believe in in this country, whatever side of the spectrum,” Kenley said. “They’re just fancy civil servants. To me, they’re just normal people.”

The vice president’s office did not respond to requests for comment.