Kid Rock delivered an unusual Memorial Day message from inside the Pentagon this week, appearing behind an official Department of Defense podium wearing sunglasses, a jacket and a chunky chain as he paid tribute to fallen US service members.The Ministry of Defense published the video message. Kid Rock is also friends with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.“Hello everyone, this is Kid Rock,” the singer said while showing footage of troops and military equipment on the screen. “On this Memorial Day, we remember the sacrifice and service of so many who are not with us today. It is a special day.“We are thinking of them. Again, I wanted to thank you. May God bless you all for your sacrifice and service.
Keep rocking babies in the free world. God bless you all.”His closing line seems to echo Neil Young’s famous song “Rockin’ in the Free World,” despite Young being a long-time critic of US President Donald Trump.Young has criticized Trump in recent years and previously filed a lawsuit against him over the use of his music at campaign rallies. In 2024, Young released the song “Big Crime”, which included the lyric: “There’s a big crime in D.C. in the White House.”
Kid Rock’s real name is Robert Richie. He has grown close to Hegseth in recent months. In April, the duo flew AH-64 Apache helicopters from an Army Air Force base at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, during filming related to ceremonies marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Helicopters typically require two pilots, but there was only one pilot on board each plane to make room for passengers, according to the Daily Beast.Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the event, saying, “Today, Army helicopters worked in the National Capital Region in support of the 250th Freedom Community Relations event.”He added that Kid Rock “participated in numerous military engagements with service members and filmed videos for Memorial Day, America’s 250th birthday, and for his Freedom 250 tour.”Parnell also said the musician’s visit gave him an opportunity “to thank service members, highlight the professionalism of the men and women who support the mission, and recognize their ongoing sacrifice in honor of our nation.”The Memorial Day appearance comes after another controversial stunt in March, when Apache helicopters flew over Kid Rock’s home in Nashville while the singer saluted below.He said at the time: “May God bless America and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend it.”Reports later claimed that the pilots involved were briefly grounded before Hegseth intervened and reversed the decision.The Pentagon video also emerged as Trump faced criticism for his comments about military deaths during a recent interview to discuss conflicts related to Iran and Venezuela.