Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and several prominent Trump allies weighed in on social media Thursday after a Navy Blue Angels flyover over a Florida beach sparked a wave of online attention.
Videos circulating across social platforms showed crowds on Pensacola Beach cheering Wednesday as two jets from the elite flight demonstration squadron swept low over the shoreline. The display quickly divided viewers, with some applauding the dramatic pass and saying they wished they had been there, while others questioned the maneuver and criticized it as excessive.
A Blue Angels jet conducts a low pass over Pensacola Beach on Wednesday. (Partridge Drones via Facebook)
Hegseth appeared to brush off the backlash in a post on X, writing, “The flyovers will continue until morale improves.”
Video shared online showed beachgoers cheering as two Blue Angels jets made a low pass over Pensacola Beach on Wednesday. (Partridge Drones via Facebook)
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also joined the conversation, sharing an image of one of the aircraft during the maneuver and adding, “Carry on Patriots.”
Eric Trump pushed back against criticism as well, reposting an ABC News report on X and writing, “Can’t stand the manufactured outrage by the low-T mainstream media. This was undoubtedly the highlight of these people’s day…”
According to the ABC News report shared by Eric Trump, Navy officials said in a statement that Blue Angels leadership is “reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review.”
The Blue Angels did not immediately respond to INC News’s request for comment.
The flyover came during Wednesday morning’s annual “Breakfast with the Blues” event, which marks the start of Red, White and Blues Week and gives spectators a chance to watch the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron practice over the Gulf Coast.
Local news outlet WALA-TV reported that this year’s event drew one of its largest crowds in recent memory, with the Casino Beach and Quietwater parking lots filling by about 7 a.m. Thousands lined the beach as the Blue Angels spent about two hours practicing ahead of this weekend’s air show.
Brenda Bennett, who has attended the event for decades, told the newspaper she had never seen a crowd this large.
“I’ve been coming since 1997 and this is the best kept secret, but I think the secret’s out because there’s more people here than normally,” Bennett said.
Video shared online showed beachgoers cheering as a Blue Angels jet made a low pass over Pensacola Beach on Wednesday. (Partridge Drones via Facebook)
Theresa Smith and Sheri Marinovich said they had to park farther away than usual because of the crowds but said the extra walk was worth it.
“They’re showing out,” the pair told the newspaper. “They love to put on a show for the breakfast crowd. You feel like they’re just so much closer and we get to hear them talking on the radio and they do different maneuvers than they do for the show.”
People gathered at Pensacola Beach to photograph and video Blue Angels jets conducting a flyover on Wednesday. (Partridge Drones via Facebook)
Many spectators told the outlet the event felt especially meaningful following the recent America 250 celebrations. Bennett said she hopes Americans continue celebrating “our freedom that we have here in the United States.”
The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice again Thursday before public performances Friday and Saturday.
