Not so long ago, celebrities used to go on USO tours to support the troops overseas. Celebrities would even do USO events domestically – I remember during the Obama administration, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden constantly visited domestic military bases and spent time with military families, and celebrities got involved there as well. During the two Trump administrations – or whatever we’re calling this endless catastrophe – the lines have been blurred significantly. We’ve gone from “celebrities donating their time to support the troops” to “let’s give celebrities access to the nuclear codes at Mar-a-Lago” and “we should give celebrities joyrides in Apaches.” Yes, Pete Hegseth took Kid Rock on a f–king joyride in an Apache.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that he and Kid Rock went “for a ride” Monday with US Army Apache helicopter pilots — less than a month after the military sparked criticism when Army pilots flew Apaches over the entertainer’s Nashville-area home.
“Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops,” Hegseth wrote on X alongside photos of the two standing in front of an Apache helicopter. “The War Department is wasting no time celebrating America’s 250th — home of the free because of the brave.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement the helicopters on Monday were operating “in support of a Freedom 250th community relations event.”
Kid Rock “participated in multiple troop touches with service members and filmed videos for Memorial Day, America’s 250th birthday, and for his Freedom 250 tour,” Parnell said.
“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,” he said.
Last month, the Army briefly launched an investigation and suspended the Army pilots who flew the two Apaches over Kid Rock’s home. Hegseth promptly shut down the investigation and lifted the pilots’ suspensions. “No punishment. No investigation, Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth wrote on social media at the time.
This is pitiful. The morons of the Trump administration are so dazzled by any “celebrity,” they’re lavishing millions of dollars worth of military assets to take goddamn Kid Rock on a f–king Apache joyride. In the middle of a war!! The American military is still engaged in Trump’s Iran Folly, and let me tell you something, America is not winning the war. Probably because they’re getting military strategy from Kid Rock.
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. The War Department is wasting no time celebrating America’s 250th — home of the free because of the… pic.twitter.com/7EyhlaCeUj
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) April 28, 2026
Scoop: Kid Rock flew to Fort Belvoir this morning on his private jet and took a little joy ride on 2 Apache helicopters with War Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to multiple Army sources, and backed up by flight data.
Apaches typically have 2 pilots, but they went up with one…
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) April 27, 2026
Photos courtesy of Hegseth’s social media.
