A military helicopter flies during a No Kings protest in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
George Walker IV AP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday summarily overturned the US military’s suspension of the two AH-64s. apache helicopter Flying teams around musician Kid Rock’s home over the weekend.
Hegseth’s move, which also quashed the Army’s investigation of the crew’s actions, came shortly after President Donald Trump said he liked Kid Rock, a major supporter of his, even as the president suggested the crew’s conduct was unauthorized.
“Thank you @KidRock,” Hegseth wrote in a post on his personal X social media account.
“Suspension of @USArmy pilots lifted. No punishment. No investigation,” the Pentagon chief wrote.
“Move over, patriots.”
The announcement by Army spokesman Major Montrell Russell came a day after he said the Army was investigating Saturday’s airstrike in Nashville, Tennessee. Kid Rock posted on his ex’s social media account.
In the video posted by the singer, helicopters are seen hovering near Kid Rock’s pool, where he salutes the crew and raises his fist while standing close to a miniature Statue of Liberty.
The incident occurred on the same day as “No Kings” demonstrations against President Donald Trump in Nashville and several other cities across the United States.
Kid Rock is a prominent Trump supporter who performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
“The Army has confirmed that on March 28, two Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell flew over the Nashville area in an incident that has attracted public and media attention,” Russell said in a statement.
“This incident is now under Army Regulation 15-6 administrative investigation,” Russell said.
“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 protocols and approval requirements,” Russell said.
“The Army takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously and is committed to enforcing standards and holding personnel accountable,” the spokesperson said.
Kid Rock holds an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump related to the US live entertainment ticketing industry in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Leah Millis | reuters
During an event at the White House on Tuesday, Trump was asked what he thought about the suspension of aircrews and flybys.
“Well, they probably shouldn’t have done that,” Trump said. “Yeah, you’re not supposed to play the game, right?”
“But I look at it. They like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock. Maybe they were trying to protect him. I don’t know,” Trump said.
