Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reversed the U.S. Army’s suspension of helicopter crews who flew two Apache helicopters near musician Kid Rock‘s Nashville, Tennessee, home over the weekend, declaring Tuesday (April 1) that there would be “no punishment, no investigation.”
The incident began Saturday (March 28) when Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, posted videos on X showing two AH-64 Apache helicopters hovering near his swimming pool while he clapped, saluted, and raised his fist in the air. The helicopters belong to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade and were operating out of Fort Campbell, on the Tennessee-Kentucky border.
Kid Rock’s home, built to resemble the White House, sits on a hill overlooking Nashville. A sign near his pool reads “The Southern White House.”
The Army initially responded by suspending the crews from flight duties pending a review. Maj. Montrell Russell, an Army spokesman, said the service was examining “compliance with relevant FAA regulations, aviation safety protocol, and approval requirements.” He added that the Army “takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously.”
But just hours later, Hegseth took to X to shut down the inquiry. “No punishment. No investigation,” Hegseth wrote. “Carry on, patriots.”
Maj. Jonathon Bless, public affairs officer for the 101st Airborne Division, said the helicopters were on a training mission when they stopped near Kid Rock’s house.
Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter who performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention, told Nashville’s WKRN that it is not unusual for Fort Campbell helicopters to fly near his property. “I think they know this is a pretty friendly spot,” he said. “I’ve told them: ‘You guys see me waving when you come by the house? You guys are always welcome to cruise by my house any time.'”
Asked whether the crews might face consequences, Kid Rock seemed confident they would be fine. “I think they’re going to be all right,” he said. “My buddy’s the commander-in-chief.”
President Trump, speaking at an Oval Office executive order signing ceremony Tuesday (April 1), appeared unconcerned when asked about the suspensions. “I didn’t see it, no, but I’m sure they had a good time,” he said. “They probably shouldn’t have been doing it. You’re not supposed to be playing games, right? I’d take a look at it. They like Kid Rock; I like Kid Rock. Maybe they were trying to defend him, I don’t know.”
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