U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday there will be no punishment or investigation after a video showed a pair of Army military helicopters hovering close to Kid Rock’s Nashville home over the weekend.
The U.S. army had said the crew had been suspended from flying while it conducted a formal investigation into why the helicopters flew near the All Summer Long singer’s house.
But hours later, Hegseth announced that the pilots’ suspension had been lifted, writing on X, “Thank you @KidRock. @USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”
Maj. Montrell Russell, a spokesman for the army, told NBC News in a statement earlier on Tuesday that 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.”
“Since the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to discuss specific findings at the time,” he said. “The Army takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously and is committed to enforcing standards and holding personnel accountable.”
On Saturday, Kid Rock posted a video on social media showing two helicopters hovering near his home. The 55-year-old singer pointed at them and saluted the aircraft while standing by his pool beside a miniature Statue of Liberty.
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“This is a level of respect that sh-t for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her,” Kid Rock captioned his post.
U.S. President Donald Trump was asked Tuesday about the aircrew suspensions and Kid Rock’s video.
“I didn’t see it, no, but I’m sure they had a good time,” Trump said during an executive order signing ceremony.
“They probably shouldn’t have been doing it. You’re not supposed to be playing games, right?” Trump said. “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.”
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 he’s performed for troops overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.
“I think they know this is a pretty friendly spot,” he said.
Kid Rock noted that last Thanksgiving he was at Fort Campbell, a sprawling army base on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance. “I’ve talked to some of these pilots. I’ve told them, ‘You guys see me waving when you come by the house?’ I’m like, ‘You guys are always welcome to cruise by my house, any time,’” he said.
The army said Monday that officials were aware of the video Kid Rock shared to social media, “that appears to show AH 64 Apache helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence in the Nashville area.”
“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements,” Russell said in a statement.
“Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found. Until the review is complete, there will be no further comment,” Russell added.
In a statement to the New York Times, Maj. Jonathon Bless, a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division, said that an administrative review, which is not an investigation, would “assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements.”
Bless said that the helicopters had been in the Nashville area for training and called their appearance over the No Kings rally — taking place at the same time in the Tennessee city — “entirely coincidental.” The division is located near Fort Campbell on the Tennessee-Kentucky border.
— With files from The Associated Press
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