Pete Hegseth Supports Crew After Their Flyby for Kid Rock Despite Suspension

U.S. Army Declines to Disciplinary Action Following Kid Rock Incident

The U.S. Army will not take disciplinary action against flight crews involved in a controversial flyby over Kid Rock’s Nashville home. The decision comes after a brief suspension of the pilots, with no further investigation planned.

The incident gained attention after Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing himself saluting two hovering AH-64 Apache helicopters. The video went viral, not only for its content but also due to its timing, coinciding with the third No Kings protest against the Trump administration, which included a demonstration in downtown Nashville.

Following the video’s release, the U.S. Army announced an investigation on March 30. However, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth later cleared the pilots. In a post on X, Hegseth stated, “Thank you Kid Rock. US Army pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”

Kid Rock has long been a vocal supporter of the Trump administration, regularly attending events and maintaining a close relationship with the former president. He previously appeared at the White House during a signing of an executive order targeting ticket scalping in the live entertainment sector.

In an interview with Nashville’s WKRN News earlier, Kid Rock appeared unconcerned about the investigation into the pilots, expressing confidence that they would not face any consequences. “I think they’re going to be all right,” he said, adding, “My buddy is the Commander-in-Chief.”

He also discussed the protests, describing the saluting of the helicopter pilots as a positive action. “There were people flipping them off,” Rock commented, addressing the reactions from demonstrators. “I don’t care what your politics are … if you’re flipping our military off, you’re on the wrong side of things.”

Former President Trump commented on the situation, acknowledging that the crews “probably shouldn’t have been doing it” and highlighting their fondness for Kid Rock. "They like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock,” he observed.

Hegseth’s announcement effectively concludes the Army’s review by the 101st Airborne Division, which emphasized adherence to “strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations.” Army spokesman Major Montrell Russell affirmed the Army’s commitment to ensuring accountability, stating, “The Army takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously.”