A military helicopter flies over the Nor Kings protest on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
George Walker IV | AP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday abruptly rescinded a hours-old U.S. military grounding of two AH64 Apache helicopter crews who flew near musician Kid Rock’s Nashville, Tennessee, home over the weekend.
Hegseth’s action, which also invalidates the Army’s investigation into Saturday’s unusual flyby, came shortly after President Donald Trump was asked about the incident by reporters at the White House.
President Trump suggested that the crew’s actions were unauthorized, but said he liked Kid Rock, a prominent supporter of his.
“Thank you @KidRock,” Hegseth posted on his personal social media account X shortly after Trump’s comments.
“The U.S. military pilot’s suspension has been lifted. There will be no punishment or investigation,” the Pentagon chief wrote.
“Keep going, patriots.”
The Army announced Monday that it is investigating the flyby crew that Kid Rock posted on his X social media account.
A video posted by the singer shows a helicopter hovering near Kid Rock’s pool, and him standing near a miniature Statue of Liberty, saluting the crew and pumping his fist.
“This is a level of respect that no Governor of California will ever know,” the singer wrote in one post, referring to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has had an ongoing feud with President Trump on social media. “God bless America and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her.”
The flyby occurred on the same day as “No Kings” demonstrations against President Trump took place in Nashville and many other cities across the country.
An Apache helicopter that appeared to have flown outside Kid Rock’s home that day also flew over the protest site in Nashville.
Army spokesman Maj. Montrell Russell said Tuesday that the Army “confirms that two Apache helicopters from Fort Campbell’s 101st Combat Aviation Brigade conducted a flight in the Nashville area that received national and media attention.”
“This incident is currently under administrative investigation pursuant to Army Regulation 15-6,” Russell said.
“The personnel involved have been suspended from flight operations 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 allegations of unauthorized or dangerous 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 U.S. President Donald Trump related to the U.S. live entertainment ticketing industry in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Leah Millis | Reuters
President Trump was asked at a White House event on Tuesday what he thought about crew suspensions and flyby flights.
“Well, they probably shouldn’t have done that,” Trump said. “Okay, we’re not supposed to play games, right?”
“But I think about it. They like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock. Maybe they tried to defend him. I don’t know,” Trump added.
Shortly after, Hegseth said he would lift the crew’s suspensions.
