The U.S. Army suspended the crew of two helicopters that did a cringeworthy fly-by of MAGA rocker Kid Rock’s home before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stepped in.
Two AH-64 Apache helicopters hovered just beyond the edge of the musician’s pool within reach of his home in the Nashville suburb of Whites Creek on Saturday—a stunt that quickly went viral on social media.
Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, saluted the pilots and repeatedly pumped his fist in the air before sharing a video on social media on Saturday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s tormentor in chief, California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“This is a level of respect that s--t for brains Governor of California will never know,” the artist wrote.
“No Kings” protests in Downtown Nashville fueled the jab at Newsom. However, officials said the aircraft were not related to the protests, which Newsom has championed. It is unclear why they were in the area around the rocker’s home—or if their trip was solely for that.
The aircraft flew from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to the Nashville area, about 50 miles to the southeast.
On Tuesday evening, the Army confirmed to the Daily Beast that a probe had been launched and that the crew had been grounded.
“This incident is now under an Army Regulation 15-6 administrative investigation,” an Army spokesperson told the Daily Beast. “The personnel involved have been suspended from flight duties while the Army reviews the circumstances surrounding the mission, including compliance with relevant FAA regulations, aviation safety protocol, and approval requirements.”
However, just hours later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed to have overturned the suspension. “Thank you @KidRock,” Hegseth wrote on X in response to the MAGA musician’s post. “@USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”
A military spokesperson told the Daily Beast on Monday that “appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.” The Beast followed up on Tuesday but did not immediately receive an answer.
“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations,” the Army said in a statement Monday. “An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements.”
Kid Rock, a golfing buddy of the president, has carved out an outsized role in Washington after being brought on board by Trump. He lives in a 27,000-square-foot White House replica he calls the “Southern White House.” It has a gold urinal and matching shower, according to Realtor.com.
