Hegseth Gives Kid Rock Apache Joyride, Draws Criticism
Hegseth and Kid Rock rode AH-64 Apaches on Monday, filmed for Memorial Day, America's 250th and Kid Rock's Freedom 250 tour after a March Nashville flyover sparked suspensions.
Daily BeastNewsom Blasts Pentagon Pete Over Kid Rock Make-a-Wish Trip
Daily KosSecretary of Bawitdaba: Kid Rock sure is cozy with Trump officials
TruthoutPentagon Says It Gave Kid Rock a Helicopter Ride to Help Him Film Tour Promo
ABC NewsHegseth and Kid Rock go for a ride in Army helicopters
Overview
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and musician Robert 'Kid Rock' Ritchie rode in AH-64 Apache attack helicopters around the Washington, D.C., area on Monday, Pentagon officials said.
The flights came weeks after two Apaches hovered near Kid Rock's Nashville-area home in March, an incident that prompted an Army investigation and the suspension of the pilots.
Hegseth posted that he had lifted the pilots' suspensions after the March flyover, saying 'No punishment. No investigation,' according to his social media post.
Military officials said operating an AH-64 Apache costs about $7,000 per hour.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the flights were filmed for Memorial Day, America's 250th birthday and Kid Rock's Freedom 250 tour.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this as a politicized breach of military norms by highlighting evaluative phrases like "unusual end run" and "sidestepped traditional channels," emphasizing internal clashes and reversed suspensions, and juxtaposing Hegseth's praise for Kid Rock with official concern — cumulatively suggesting procedural undermining for partisan ends.