Kid Rock and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took a thrilling ride in AH-64 Apache helicopters around Washington, D.C., on Monday. This comes just weeks after the Army faced criticism for flying the same helicopters near Kid Rock’s home. Both helicopters belong to the 101st Airborne Division, which had previously flown close to Kid Rock’s Nashville-area residence. The musician even shared a video of himself waving and saluting the Apaches as they hovered nearby.
Hegseth shared on social media, “Joined my friend @KidRock – and some of our great @USArmy Apache pilots – for a ride this morning. (More to come on that!) Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops.” After the earlier incident, the pilots were initially suspended, but Hegseth quickly stepped in, stating, “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”
A U.S. official mentioned that Monday’s flight will be turned into a promotional video for the Pentagon. Kid Rock has been a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, often appearing at rallies and political events. While military flyovers are common, they usually happen during major public events, not near private homes.
Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the visit allowed Kid Rock to thank service members and highlight their dedication and sacrifices for the nation.
