The U.S. Army has lifted suspensions on two Apache helicopter crews that flew near musician Kid Rock's Nashville estate over the weekend after initially launching an investigation into the incident.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Army lifted suspensions on helicopter crews that flew near Kid Rock's Nashville home after an initial investigation was launched. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced no further action would be taken, and the pilots were cleared of any wrongdoing.
- Army suspends then reinstates two Apache helicopter crews
- Flight occurred near Kid Rock’s Nashville estate on March 28
- No official request from Kid Rock for the flyby
- Kid Rock posted videos saluting the helicopters online with a political message targeting California Governor Gavin Newsom
- President Trump jokes about the incident, saying 'They like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock.'
According to multiple reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced via social media that no punishment or further investigation would be taken against the pilots from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell. The helicopters were conducting training operations when they flew near Kid Rock's hilltop home on Saturday, where he posted videos online showing himself saluting the aircraft from his outdoor pool.
In one clip, Kid Rock stands next to a replica of the Statue of Liberty while clapping as the helicopters hover before flying away. The incident drew political attention as Kid Rock captioned his videos with profanity-laced comments directed at California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has clashed with President Donald Trump.
The Army confirmed that there had been no official request from Kid Rock for the helicopters to fly by his house, which he and his supporters have dubbed the Southern White House. The review follows reports that military helicopters also flew near anti-Trump protests in Nashville over the weekend, though officials emphasized there was no connection between these events.
Kid Rock told WKRN-TV on Monday that it's not uncommon for helicopters from nearby Fort Campbell to fly near his home. He said he is a big supporter of the military and has performed for troops overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries. 'I think they know this is a pretty friendly spot,' he said. He noted that last Thanksgiving he was at Fort Campbell with Vice President JD Vance.
President Donald Trump, when asked about the incident on Tuesday, joked: 'Maybe they were trying to defend him.' Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the crews 'probably shouldn't have been doing it. You're not supposed to be playing games'. He added, 'They like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock.'
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