.png)
1 hour ago
1
A military helicopter flies over a No Kings protest Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
George Walker IV | AP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday summarily reversed the U.S. Army's suspension hours earlier of two AH 64 Apache helicopter crews that flew around musician Kid Rock's home over the weekend.
Hegseth's move, which also quashed an Army investigation of the crews' actions, came shortly after President Donald Trump said he liked Kid Rock, who is a prominent supporter of his, even as the president suggested the crews' conduct was unauthorized.
"Thank you @KidRock," Hegseth wrote in a post on his personal X social media account.
"@USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation," the Pentagon chief wrote.
"Carry on, patriots."
The announcement by Army Spokesman Maj. Montrell Russell came a day after he said the Army was probing Saturday's flyby in Nashville, Tennessee, which Kid Rock posted on his X social media account.
Videos posted by the singer show the choppers hovering close to Kid Rock's pool, with him saluting the crews and pumping his fist while standing close to a miniature Statue of Liberty.
The flyby occurred on the same day that Nashville and many other cities around the United States saw "No Kings" demonstrations against President Donald Trump.
Kid Rock is a prominent Trump supporter who performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Read more CNBC politics coverage
"The Army has confirmed that on March 28, two Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell conducted a flight in the Nashville area that has attracted public and media attention," Russell said in a statement.
"This incident is now under an 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 protocol, 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 spokesman 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 at the White House in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2025.
Leah Millis | Reuters
Trump, during an event on Tuesday at the White House, was asked what he thought about the suspensions of the aircrews and the flyby.
"Well, they probably shouldn't have been doing it, Trump said. "Yes, you're not supposed to be playing games, right?"
"But I take a look at it. They like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock. Maybe they were trying to defend him. I don't know," Trump added.
