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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Army pilots who hovered 2 helicopters adjacent Kid Rock’s Tennessee location during a grooming tally portion helium clapped and saluted person had their suspension lifted, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday.
“No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth said successful a societal media post. The Pentagon didn't instantly respond for comment.
Earlier, a U.S. Army spokesperson said the crews of the 2 AH-64 Apache helicopters were suspended from flying, pending an probe into their actions. The suspension was a discretionary — but not antithetic — measurement erstwhile an probe is underway, Maj. Montrell Russell said.
“The Army has confirmed that connected March 28, 2 Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade astatine Fort Campbell conducted a formation successful the Nashville country that has attracted nationalist and media attention,” according to a connection from the Army connected Tuesday. The Army said it would reappraisal whether the formation complied with FAA regulations and aviation information protocol.
Kid Rock, who is an outspoken protagonist of President Donald Trump, told WKRN-TV connected Monday that it's not uncommon for helicopters from adjacent Fort Campbell to alert adjacent his home. He said helium is simply a large protagonist of the subject and he's performed for troops overseas successful Afghanistan, Iraq and different countries.
“I deliberation they cognize this is simply a beauteous affable spot,” helium said. He noted that past Thanksgiving helium was astatine Fort Campbell, a sprawling Army basal connected the Tennessee-Kentucky border, with Vice President JD Vance. “I've talked to immoderate of these pilots. I've told them, ‘You guys spot maine waving erstwhile you travel by the house?' I’m like, ‘You guys are ever invited to cruise by my house, immoderate time,’” helium said.
Kid Rock posted 2 abbreviated videos connected societal media Saturday. Each shows a chopper hovering alongside his swimming excavation portion the entertainer claps, salutes and raises his fist successful the air. One station included a caption by Kid Rock disparaging Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a predominant Trump critic.
Speaking astatine the Oval Office connected Tuesday, Trump suggested possibly the crews shouldn’t person done it earlier adding, “I similar Kid Rock, possibly they were trying to support him, I don’t know.”
In the videos, Kid Rock stands adjacent to a replica of the Statue of Liberty and a motion by the excavation that reads, “The Southern White House.” His location connected a elevation overlooking Nashville was built to lucifer the White House.
The helicopters were connected a grooming ngo erstwhile they stopped by Kid Rock's house, said Maj. Jonathon Bless, nationalist affairs serviceman for the 101st Airborne Division. The helicopters besides flew implicit a “No Kings” protestation against Trump successful downtown Nashville, but Bless said their beingness had thing to bash with the protest.
Kid Rock said helium thought it was “really cool” that they stopped to hover astatine his house.
“If it makes their time a small brighter for their work to our country, protecting us, I deliberation that’s a large thing," helium said.
Asked astir imaginable repercussions for the crews, helium said, “I deliberation they’re going to beryllium each right. My buddy’s the commandant successful chief.”
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Associated Press reporters Collin Binkley successful Washington and Audrey McAvoy successful Honolulu contributed to this story.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.
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