Kid Rock and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took to the skies in Army Apache attack helicopters Monday — just weeks after two chopper crews got in hot water for performing a fly-by over the rocker’s Tennessee home.
The “Bawitdaba” singer joined Hegseth at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where they met the crews who operate the AH-64 Apache helicopters before going on “a ride,” the Pentagon boss posted on X.
The 55-year-old rocker, born Robert James Ritchie, and Hegseth each rode separate choppers during the visit.
The AH-64 Apache is the US military’s premier attack helicopter — armed with a 30mm nose-mounted cannon and anti-tank missiles, costing tens of millions to build and roughly $7,000 an hour to operate.
“Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops,” Hegseth wrote.
“The War Department is wasting no time celebrating America’s 250th — home of the free because of the brave.”
Hegseth also posted a photo showing Kid Rock addressing a group of soldiers in the Pentagon’s press briefing room.
The flights were part of a “community relations event” where Kid Rock and Hegseth met with troops and filmed videos for “Memorial Day, America’s 250th birthday, and for his Freedom 250 tour, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.
Kid Rock flew to the base from Nashville aboard his private jet in the morning and returned immediately after, according to public flight tracking data.
The outing follows scrutiny of Apache crews from the 101st Airborne Division after a viral video posted to Kid Rock’s X account last month showed two helicopters hovering above his Tennessee estate.
In the clip, Kid Rock praised those who have served the country and made the “ultimate sacrifice,” standing outside his Nashville home and saluting the helicopter crews hovering just feet away before they flew off moments later.
The AH-64 Apache helicopter flew over Nashville’s “No Kings” protest that same day, though Army officials noted that the training run was unrelated to the nationwide demonstrations.
Following the viral stunt, the Army opened an investigation and suspended the crews involved in the flyover.
However, Hegseth later lifted the suspension.
“No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots,” he wrote on X.
With Post wires
Read the full article here
