Pentagon defends allowing Kid Rock and Pete Hegseth to fly in military helicopter together
The Pentagon has defended its decision to allow Kid Rock and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to use military helicopters to take a flight together.
Hegseth first broke the news about the flight taking place by posting pictures of the event on X on April 27th, along with the caption: “Joined my friend Kid Rock — and some of our great US army Apache pilots — for a ride this morning. (More to come on that!)”
He added: “Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops. The War Department is wasting no time celebrating America’s 250th — home of the free because of the brave.”
It comes weeks after Rock and the US Army were criticised, after the musician posted a video of military helicopters flying close to his home in Nashville, when they were meant to be overseeing a nearby protest.
The army had initially suspended the pilots in question while they undertook an investigation, but Hegseth overruled this decision by posting on X at the time: “No punishment. No investigation, Carry on, patriots.”
Subsequently, after the latest flight took place with Rock on his way to speak at the Pentagon, spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the decision in a statement to Military.com that said: “Robert ‘Kid Rock’ Ritchie participated in multiple troop touches with service members and filmed videos for Memorial Day, America’s 250th birthday, and for his Freedom 250 tour.”
He added: “The visit provided an opportunity for Kid Rock to thank service members… and recognise their continued sacrifice.”
Rock has been one of the most prominent supporters of Donald Trump’s administration throughout its second term so far, having also headlined the alternate Super Bowl Halftime Show in February for Turning Point USA.
At the time, he was criticised for lip syncing in his performance, which he later attempted to defend as the music being “out of sync” in the pre-recorded show.
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