U.S. Army Suspends Crew that Flew Helicopters Near Kid Rock’s Home

The Army has suspended the crew who flew military helicopters near Kid Rock’s Nashville home over the weekend, a U.S. official told NBC News on Tuesday.

On Saturday, Kid Rock shared a video of himself clapping for the two AH64 Apache helicopters as they circled his home, an area he’s dubbed “The Southern White House,” a replica of the White House.

“This is a level of respect that shit for brains Governor of California will never know,” Rock captioned the video, in a slam on Gavin Newsom. “God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.” At press time, the video has been viewed 10 million times.

The U.S. Army identified the aircraft as AH-64 Apache helicopters, which were flying in the Nashville area; a military spokesperson said on Monday that the incident was being reviewed and any “appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.” They added that the aircraft had come from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, prior to their flying around the Nashville area to do an apparent fly-by over Kid Rock’s house.

Per a statement from the Army on Monday, “Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements.”

When asked about the incident in an interview, Rock boasted about his close friendship with President Donald Trump. “I think [the pilots are] going to be alright — my buddy is the Commander-in-Chief,” Rock told Nashville news station WKRN.

Despite the timing of the fly-bys on Saturday — which per flight-tracking data online, at least one of the helicopters circled Rock’s estate four times over a three-minute span — a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell denied the fly-overs being connected to the No Kings protests that took place over the weekend. The event drew millions, including Bruce Springsteen, who performed at the St. Paul rally. The Nashville helicopter flights around Kid Rock’s home were “entirely coincidental,” the spokesman said.