Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a ride with musician Kid Rock aboard an Army Apache helicopter in the Washington, D.C., area on Monday. The flight comes weeks after the military came under fire for flying the same type of attack helicopter near the singer's Tennessee estate.
Hegseth posted a photo with Kid Rock on social media late Monday, calling him "a patriot and huge supporter of our troops." He added that the Pentagon is "wasting no time celebrating America's 250th — home of the free because of the brave." The event was tied to the White House's commemoration of the nation's 250th anniversary.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that AH-64 Apache helicopters were used for events surrounding the anniversary. He said Kid Rock participated in "multiple troop touches" and filmed videos for Memorial Day, the 250th birthday celebration, and his Freedom 250 tour. Parnell also noted that Kid Rock has pledged to give 1,000 free tickets to military members and veterans at each stop on his tour.
"The visit today provided an opportunity for Kid Rock to thank service members, highlight the professionalism of the men and women supporting the mission, and recognize their continued sacrifice in honor of our nation," Parnell said. "The Department is grateful for Kid Rock's long time support of our troops."
The ride follows an earlier incident in early March when a pair of Apache helicopters flew near Kid Rock's home in the Nashville area and over a "No Kings" protest in the city. The Army launched an investigation into those flights, which were conducted by a crew from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, and suspended the service members involved.
Hegseth intervened shortly after, ending the investigation and lifting the suspensions. This move drew criticism from some Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee, who argued the Army should have been allowed to complete its probe and determine appropriate discipline. The controversy has also fueled broader concerns about Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, with Senate Republicans increasingly skeptical of his tenure.
Monday's flight reignited scrutiny from the other side of the aisle. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a frequent critic of Hegseth, questioned why the defense secretary "is spending your taxpayer dollars to give Kid Rock 'joy rides' on Apache helicopters." The incident also comes amid broader debates over Pentagon spending, including European NATO spending surges as the U.S. cuts its defense budget.
DropSite News first reported on Kid Rock's helicopter flight. The Pentagon has not disclosed the cost of Monday's operation.
