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 abruptly reversed the U.S. military’s suspension of two AH-64s, hours before they were scheduled to take flight duty. apache helicopter Crews flying around musician Kid Rock’s home in Nashville, Tennessee over the weekend.
Hegseth’s move, which also quashed the military’s investigation of Saturday’s unusual flight, came shortly after President Donald Trump was asked about the incident by reporters at the White House.
Trump said he liked Kid Rock, who is his major supporter, although the President suggested that Crews’ conduct was unauthorized.
“Thank you @kidrock,” Hegseth wrote in a post on his personal X social media account shortly after Trump’s comments.
“Suspension of @USArmy pilots lifted. No punishment. No investigation,” the Pentagon chief wrote.
“Move over, patriots.”
The army said on Monday it was investigating the crew for the flyby 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.
“This is a level of respect that no California governor will ever know,” the singer wrote in a post, referring to Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom. “God bless America and all those who have made the supreme sacrifice to protect her.”
The incident occurred on the same day as “No Kings” demonstrations against Trump in Nashville and several other cities in the United States.
Apache helicopters, which appeared to be flying outside Kid Rock’s home, also flew during protests in Nashville that day.
Army spokesman Maj. Montrell Russell said Tuesday that the Army “has confirmed that 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.”
“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 shouldn’t play games, 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.
Shortly afterward, Hegseth said he was lifting Crews’ suspension.
