Newsom Questions Indy 500 Flyover As Costs Keep Climbing

Gavin Newsom started discussions about military spending and rising living costs after taking a shot at Pete Hegseth over a viral Indy 500 helicopter flyover video that the Defense Secretary shared while many Americans are struggling with high gas prices.

Newsom’s press office quickly responded with a short but pointed message, “Sir, we just want lower gas prices.”

And with that short message, Newsom took aim at how the Department of Defense is spending money at a time of economic crisis.

It all began when Hegseth posted a clip on X showing Army Blackhawk helicopters flying above race cars at the Indianapolis 500 as part of the military’s “Pace Lap for America” for its upcoming 250th birthday celebration.

Newsom's response was to the point, as the cost of fuel has sharply increased recently, and netizens noted that the flyover was possibly excessive right now.

Online, many commented on the rising fuel costs, expensive groceries, and the high cost of living that can partly be linked to the war in Iran and the global oil markets.

While Hegseth shared the awesome flight of the helicopters, Newsom’s team used the flyover video to highlight the affordability issues many are facing.

It landed, particularly because the Trump administration is ramping up public events as America’s 250th anniversary celebrations are beginning.

Hegseth’s video drew backlash from some users who questioned whether taxpayer money was appropriately used by having military flyovers while many were experiencing financial hardship.

“Thank you for wasting taxpayer money while my gas and grocery bills remain high,” one user wrote beneath the post.

Another commenter added, “How is this helping Americans?”

Newsom critics were quick to point out that California had higher fuel taxes than the rest of the country and environmental regulations are a major reason that those prices remain so high.

One response to Newsom’s post read, “If you want lower gas prices, stop taxing the sh** out of it in California.”

In early May, Trump faced backlash because he was prioritizing Iran’s nuclear threat over America's economic crises .

“I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters when asked about the financial burden on Americans.

Newsom’s office later repeated its “we just want lower gas prices” line after pics of the construction for a UFC event for Trump’s birthday celebration on the White House grounds appeared in the news.

Senator Patty Murray also weighed in on the government's spending during the tough economic situation the country is currently experiencing.

“Americans don’t have corporation sponsors to pay for their gas,” Murray said.

This is not the first time in recent months that military aircrafts have caused a stir that involved Hegseth and one of Trump's celebrity supporters.

Earlier this year, Army helicopters had a flyby near Kid Rock’s Nashville-area property. After an administrative review, Hegseth later stated there would be “No punishment. No investigation.”

And in the meantime, the debate grows about government spending and accountability.