Hegseth Gives Kid Rock Helicopter Ride, Costing Taxpayers

On April 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave his friend Kid Rock a ride in an army

Apache attack helicopter on Monday, and it all came at.

Taxpayer expense.

Hegseth posted photos of the two on social media, calling Kid Rock a patriot and big supporter

of the troops.

The flight happened at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, with helicopters brought in from Fort Campbell

on the Kentucky Tennessee border.

This stunt follows another close call weeks earlier, when Apache helicopters flew low

over a no-kings protest near Kid Rock's home in Tennessee.

The two pilots involved got suspended, but Hegseth stepped in, reversed the decision, and

killed the investigation.

The Pentagon spun it as part of a community relations event tied to the White House's

Freedom 250 initiative, marking America's 200, 50th anniversary.

Kid Rock was there for troop visits and filming videos for Memorial Day and his own tour.

Hegs lit up social media, with California Governor Gavin Newsom's office questioning

why taxpayers footed the bill for million dollar helicopters.

Influencer Harry Sisson blasted it outright, saying they blew public money on joy rides.

An army source says, each Apache flight hour runs about $7,000.

Meanwhile, flight records show Kid Rock's jet landing at the base around 6.30 a.m.

That day, lining up perfectly with the helicopter action.

This kind of move keeps fueling debates on government spending and priorities.