High-Profile Helicopter Flights Stir Controversy: Kid Rock and Defense Secretary Take to the Skies
The presence of celebrities in military equipment often raises eyebrows, and the recent flights involving Kid Rock and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are no exception. On Monday, the pair took to the skies in Army Apache helicopters at a Virginia military base, just weeks following a contentious incident involving military aircraft near the musician’s residence.
Images of Kid Rock and Hegseth at the base were shared on social media, with Hegseth praising the musician as a “patriot and huge supporter of our troops.” The flights were part of a “community relations event” for Freedom 250, a White House initiative marking America’s 250th anniversary, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
Robert ‘Kid Rock’ Ritchie engaged with service members and recorded videos for various patriotic occasions, including Memorial Day and his Freedom 250 tour, Parnell noted. However, the flights have not been without controversy. In March, similar helicopters hovered near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home and over a protest in Nashville against the Trump administration, sparking questions about their authorization and safety.
Initially, an investigation into the March flights was announced, involving the 101st Airborne Division’s crew from Fort Campbell. Yet, Hegseth intervened, halting the inquiry. The Army had described the March flights as a training mission unrelated to the protest.
Flight data indicates Kid Rock’s jet departed Nashville early Monday, landing at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, at 6:30 a.m. An Apache helicopter, identified by the Military Air Tracking Alliance, conducted maneuvers over the base in the afternoon. This Apache was part of a larger group from Fort Campbell, which included four Apache and two Blackhawk helicopters.
According to an anonymous Army source, operating an Apache helicopter costs approximately $7,000 per hour. Criticism arose on social media, with California Governor Gavin Newsom questioning the use of taxpayer money for such flights, noting the helicopters’ $100 million cost. Newsom is known for his opposition to the Trump administration.
Similarly, Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army Ranger, criticized the flights, questioning the expenditure of taxpayer dollars for what he described as “joy rides” for Kid Rock. Military officials often argue that public events involving military flights do not result in additional taxpayer costs, as they meet regular training requirements.
Hegseth also shared a photo of Kid Rock addressing a small group of service members at the Pentagon. Flight records show Kid Rock returned to Nashville shortly after 3 p.m. Monday. Apaches are typically staffed by a two-person crew, meaning Hegseth and Kid Rock would have flown separately.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
Be First to Comment