Many Americans spent the weekend making history. Kid Rock spent the weekend making an ass of himself. So… the usual. Kid, anti-elitist man of the people, was at his humble 27,000-square-foot home in Nashville, which I’ve had the misfortune of learning is a replica of the White House. Except Kid’s has a sign that christens it, “The Southern White House.” I know this now because Kid posted a video on Instagram Saturday that shows him at SWH HQ (the camera wobbles in such a way that for a bit all I could make out was “The Southern White…” and I shuddered to think of what word came next). Anyway, the big brouhaha of the video was that it shows two US Army Apache helicopters flying awfully close to Kid’s backyard, to the point where it looks like they’re putting on a little dance just for Kid. For his part, Kid responds with the overboard enthusiasm of a, well, kid. Well, funny story, when you post something on a public account on Instagram, it’s PUBLIC, so the US military saw it and started investigating wtf happened.
“God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her,” he captioned the video, which caught the eye of millions, including the U.S. Army.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army confirmed to Politico that an administrative review had begun “to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements.”
“The Army is aware of a video circulating online that appears to show AH-64 Apache helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence in the Nashville area,” Maj. Montrell Russell said in a statement. “Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.”
Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky. confirmed to CBS News that the pair of AH-64 Apache helicopters were following a training route in the Nashville area. Additionally, said Maj. Jonathan Bless, the command has opened an investigation “to review the circumstances surrounding this activity.”
“The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell maintain strict standards for aviation safety, professionalism, and adherence to established flight regulations,” continued Maj. Bless. “We take all concerns regarding aircraft operations and their impact on the surrounding community seriously.”
Representatives for Kid Rock did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment.
Kid Rock (real name: Robert Ritchie), a longtime supporter of the U.S. troops, is just as vocal about the Trump Administration. Last month, he headlined the All-American Halftime Show, Turning Point USA’s alternative programming to the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show starring Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny.
His performance made headlines, however, for the wrong reasons, as viewers accused him of lip-synching.
In an interview with Fox News, Kid Rock argued it was more of a “syncing issue” than lip-synching during the pre-recorded performance.
“I’m jumping around stage like a rabid monkey, rapping my song and I’m taking breaths and my DJ is filling in the other parts of it,” he explained to Laura Ingraham. “I even told them when I saw the rough cut, I was like, ‘You guys gotta work on that sync. It’s off.’ So it was just a syncing issue that they had, and I know they tried to get it right. It was very difficult.”
I know it’s off topic, but EW including Kid’s “explanation” for why his stupid fake Halftime Show performance sucked so hard was just perfect. “I didn’t lip sync!! The other guys messed up the synching of sound to my lips!” In that vein, my favorite comment to Kid’s helicopter video is, “Nobody actually respects you, you washed up Eminem-wannabe f–k.” Nailed it. Also, EW didn’t include the full caption Kid added to his post, the first sentence kicks things off with hatred: “This is a level of respect that sh-t for brains Governor of California will never know.” Keeping it klassy, Kid. Not to mention, Kid Rock deigning to call anyone else sh-t for brains is really the pot calling the kettle scuzzy. Anyway, someone showed the video to Kid’s friend Diaper Don, and sometime after Pete Hegseth ended the Army’s investigation — as well as a suspension that had been put on the two pilots — with a tweet. Democracy in action. I honestly have no idea what, if anything, would’ve come from the Army’s investigation, had they been allowed to continue. But I will say this: people can bray all they like about their strict standards of safety and conduct. If you’re actually living up to those standards, though, the actions speak for themselves.
Thank you @KidRock.@USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED.
No punishment. No investigation.
Carry on, patriots. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/Zqhv1Zx1iG
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 31, 2026
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- President Donald Trump chairs a cabinet meeting at the White House Featuring: President Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 26 Aug 2025 Credit: Aaron Schwartz/POOL via CNP/INSTARimages.com
Photos via Twitter and credit: POOL via CNP/INSTARimages.com, Andrew Thomas/CNP/INSTARimages
Please help me understand. The pilots flew the army helicopters to this moron’s house with or without permission to fanboy over him. Their superior had no idea, and wanted to investigate. But Hegseth said there is no need to investigate because this is so patriotic, they are OK to do this. Right? How did they know he would be home at the moment?? Why does he think he should be respected like a governor? I have so many questions.
I think the answer to all of them is just “naked corruption from the top all the way down.”
How much did this stunt cost taxpayers?
Ritchie needs to pay us back
Yep. And if he doesn’t pay up start taking some assets like his house.
And they keep telling us that we can’t afford healthcare, childcare, education and food assistance, etc. You know – the important stuff.
I get further enraged every day.
It’s time to rise up ladies because we are the ones who will get it done.
What a bunch of f–king losers.
Members of the 101st airborne did this?! Jfc.
Wasting taxpayer dollars, risking expensive equipment, and showing the kind of judgment that should get them kicked out. Wtaf. (Also, how old are they? They shouldn’t have any idea who kr is)
The felon collective just keeps destroying our military in every way possible.
They should be tossed out and so should the person directly above them that they answer to for showing this kind of bad judgement.
Just ugh. I hope he gets a disease.
They act like a bunch of high school boys. I’m sure that ‘lil Petey though it was sooooo funny and he’s “running” our Pentagon. These people need to go now!