**Kid Rock, a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, is making headlines again.** This time, the rock star was spotted on an Apache helicopter – the iconic attack helicopter in the US Army's arsenal – which has reportedly raised eyebrows in some official circles. During the joyride, Kid Rock, popular among MAGA fans, flew out of Fort Belvoir while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in a separate helicopter. In a post on X, the War Secretary wrote, "Joined my friend Kid Rock – and some of our great U.S. Army Apache pilots – for a ride this morning," adding that he is "a patriot and a huge supporter of our troops."
According to The Independent, citing public flight-tracking data, Rock arrived at the base from his home in Nashville via his private jet and flew back in a helicopter afterward. It is unclear who paid for the helicopter ride. In response, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson, called the flights part of a "community relations event" for Freedom 250, a White House-led initiative for the country's 250th anniversary.
"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 said in a statement. But this is not the first time Hegseth, as critics say, has handed out favorable treatment to Rock. Earlier, a controversy was sparked after military pilots buzzed the Picture hitmaker's mansion in Nashville. This stunt caused an uproar, leading to the pilots' suspension. However, Hegseth intervened and cleared them.
The scene unfolded with a mix of excitement and controversy, showcasing Kid Rock's close ties with the military and his prominent role in supporting the troops and celebrating America's milestones. While some may view it as a harmless publicity stunt, others see it as a sign of preferential treatment that has been controversial in the past.
