Kid Rock delivered an unusual Memorial Day message from inside the Pentagon this week, appearing behind a Defense Department official onstage wearing sunglasses, a hoodie and a thick chain as he paid tribute to fallen U.S. service members.A video message was issued by the Defense Department. Kid Rock is also friends with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.“Hello everyone, this is Kid Rock,” the singer said as footage of soldiers and military hardware played on the screen. “This Memorial Day, we are remembering the sacrifice and service of so many who are no longer with us today. It is a special day.“We are thinking about them. Once again, I want to say thank you. God bless you all for your sacrifice, your service. Keep rocking the kid in the free world. God bless you all.”His closing line appeared to echo Neil Young’s famous song “Rockin’ in the Free World”, despite Young being a longtime critic of US President Donald Trump.Young has criticized Trump in recent years and previously sued him over the use of his music at campaign rallies. In 2024, Young released the song “Big Crime”, which included the lyric: “The bigger crime in DC is in the White House.”Kid Rock’s real name is Robert Richie. He has become close to Hegseth in recent months. In April, during filming tied to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the pair flew in AH-64 Apache helicopters from an Army airbase at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. According to the Daily Beast, helicopters typically require two pilots, but each plane only had one pilot to make room for passengers.Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the event, saying: “Today, Army helicopters operated over the National Capital Region in support of the Independence 250th Community Relations Event.”He added that Kid Rock “participated in several military liaisons with service members and filmed videos for Memorial Day, America’s 250th birthday and 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 continued sacrifice in honor of our nation.”The Memorial Day appearance followed 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, “God bless America and all those who have made the supreme sacrifice to protect her.”Later reports claimed that the pilots involved were briefly suspended before Hegseth intervened and overturned the decision.The Pentagon’s video also came as Trump faced criticism over comments he made about military deaths during a recent interview while discussing conflicts involving Iran and Venezuela.