'Make A Wish kid': Pete Hegseth mocked for video of himself as passenger on jet ride-along

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced mockery for posting video of himself riding in a fighter jet with the apparent implication that he was the pilot.

The self-proclaimed secretary of war visited Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada, home of the TOPGUN program, and took part with Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a ride-along exercise in a fighter jet wearing a black flight helmet reading "SECWAR."

"EXTENDED VERSION: The Chairman and I felt the need for speed with TOPGUN at Naval Air Station Fallon," Hegseth posted on his official X account. "Incredible Americans!"

The defense secretary's self-aggrandizing post attracted ridicule from other social media users.

"Bahahahhahaha they really are not saying but kind of trying to imply to people that he flew it," posted former Republican congressman and Air Force veteran Adam Kinzinger, who served as a pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Oh wow you rode in the back while someone piloted it??? Soooooo alpha."

"'Felt the need for speed': The vibes of a FaceBook post from a 13 year old about visiting Universal Studios and riding a big boy ride for the first time," said property manager Oksana Luk. "Bro, this was 6/7. You ate it!"

"The Chairman at least can fly his own plane, and he was one of the pilots defending our skies during 9/11," noted photographer Diana Rivera. "He is the real hero here."

"So how much did your joyride cost taxpayers?" asked X user Cornhusker Libertarian. "Asking for a friend."

"[Hegseth] is getting his kicks by burning jet fuel while taking an $80 million fighter out for a joy ride," noted X user Joel Keith. "Is this normal? No. Does it look like fun? Yes. Hegseth is supposed be top guy, not top gun."

"You're the Secretary of Defense not a f------ Make A Wish kid," seethed X user DeVermisMysteriis. "What an embarrassment. Par for the course. Did Qatar pay for the fuel too?"