Kid Rock shares helicopter with Pete Hegseth for tour opener – Celebrity News – Entertainment

Kid Rock flexed footage from a recent outing with Pete Hegseth on the opening night of his ongoing tour.

Kid Rock, 55, opened up his Rock the Country tour with a video message. In the clip, the singer puffed on a cigar before stepping out of a private jet and receiving a greeting from the US Secretary of War, 45. The two shared a huge, and Kid Rock asked Hegseth what he was doing, to which the younger man responded that he was there to attend the tour.

The helicopter ride prompted backlash from some social media users, who expressed that they didn’t appreciate the Department of War using taxpayer dollars for the stunt.

“Pete Hegseth and Kid Rock spending your hard earned taxpayer money on a promo video for Kid Rock’s new tour…. This administration is unintelligent, under qualified, and corrupt. Wtf,” wrote one X user.

“A complete WASTE of taxpayer dollars. Pete Hegseth and Kid Rock need to be INVESTIGATED NOW! While Trump is ripping health care away, how much did this c— cost us???”

One X user mused, “A failing KidRock is promoted by the failing Hegseth on the taxpayers money. How about that.”

“Why am I paying for Kid Rock and Pete Hegseth to take week day helicopter joy rides?” asked another.

The Rock the Country tour, helmed by Kid Rock, features artists like Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, and Jelly Roll. The tour is described as “a celebration of community, tradition, and the spirit that’s carried America through 250 years.” The seven stops are “where the beer flows, the love pours, and the music sparks like fireworks on the Fourth.”

Rapper Ludacris and rock band Shinedown are two of the acts who pulled out of Rock the Country before the tour began on May 1 in Dallas. A representative for Ludacris said, “Lines got crossed and he wasn’t supposed to be on there,” while Shinedown stated that “Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide.” Country singers Morgan Wade and Carter Faith also removed themselves from the tour.

As Rock the Country sets off, Kid Rock continues to tighten his relationship with President Trump’s administration and the MAGA movement. The singer has supported Trump since his first presidential campaign. He performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention and even stood alongside Trump as he signed an executive order aiming to curb live event ticket scalping and lower prices.