WASHINGTON – In an event that has attracted both support and criticism, musician Kid Rock and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took to the skies in Army Apache attack helicopters at a military base in Virginia. This event took place just weeks after military pilots faced scrutiny for their controversial flights near Kid Rock’s Tennessee residence.
On Monday evening, Hegseth shared images of their experience flying the Apache helicopters on social media, praising Kid Rock as a “patriot” and expressing gratitude for his support of U.S. troops. The flights were part of a “community relations event” linked to the White House-led initiative, Freedom 250, designed to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
According to Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, Kid Rock participated in various activities with service members and filmed videos for Memorial Day and the upcoming Freedom 250 tour. The Army initially faced backlash over flights conducted in March that involved similar helicopters flying close to Kid Rock’s home and over a protest against the Trump administration in Nashville. This incident raised concerns about flight safety and authorization.
Following the March flights, the Army announced an investigation and suspended the involved pilots. However, Hegseth intervened, effectively halting the inquiry. Army officials later clarified that the helicopters were on a training mission and that their presence was not related to the protest.
On Monday, Kid Rock’s private jet landed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia early in the morning. Later, an Army AH-64 Apache helicopter took off, performing loops over the base before landing again within a short period. This helicopter was part of a group of aircraft that had recently arrived from Fort Campbell, which is located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.
Drop Site News first reported on the flights that day. The cost of operating an Apache helicopter is approximately $7,000 per hour, according to an anonymous Army official, raising questions about the financial implications of such events. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the flights on social media, questioning why taxpayer money was being used to transport Kid Rock via military helicopters.
Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado also expressed his concerns, questioning the appropriateness of Hegseth spending taxpayer dollars for what he termed “joy rides” on military aircraft. Military officials often argue that public events, such as flying celebrities or conducting military flyovers, fulfill routine training requirements, thereby not incurring additional costs for taxpayers.
Hegseth shared a photo of Kid Rock engaging with service members in the Pentagon’s press briefing room. Public flight records indicate that Kid Rock’s jet returned to Nashville shortly after their activities concluded. Notably, Apaches typically operate with a two-person crew, meaning that Kid Rock and Hegseth would not have flown together in the same helicopter.
