Two U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters conducted low-altitude maneuvers near the Nashville-area estate of rock musician Kid Rock on Saturday, setting off a viral social media moment and triggering a formal administrative review by military officials.
Kid Rock, whose legal name is Robert Ritchie, cheered as an Apache attack helicopter hovered near his pool, which features a life-sized sculpture of the Statue of Liberty.
Kid Rock posted a video on X of himself standing on a covered deck area of his home, saluting one Apache as it hovered just beyond his expansive swimming pool.
In a second video, the helicopter had rotated into what appeared to be an attack position facing the entertainer, while a second Apache helicopter swooped across the background.
Kid Rock’s home is a 27,000-square-foot mansion patterned after the White House.
The property, located in the Nashville suburb of Whites Creek, Tennessee, sits approximately 50 miles from Fort Campbell, the Army installation on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.
Kid Rock, age 55 and a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, captioned one of the videos with a dig at California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“This is a level of respect that s— for brains Governor of California will never know,” the musician wrote, referring to Newsom, a critic of Trump.
Kid Rock also posted, “God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.”
Newsom’s X account in February had previously mocked Kid Rock, and following the helicopter videos, Newsom’s official press office X account wrote that the governor was “officially banning” Kid Rock from the state, saying he is “NOT WHAT YOU WANT AROUND OUR CHILDREN.”
The social media post from Newsom’s office drew immediate criticism online.
One X user wrote sarcastically that they were “so glad that our tax dollars are paying for Kid Rock to have a military fly-by.”
Another user called the footage “shameful stuff,” while a third wrote, “we are out here struggling to buy groceries and gas. So glad our taxes are going towards this bulls**t.”
NPR reported that there was no official request to the Army from Kid Rock for the helicopters to come to his house on Saturday, according to Maj. Jonathon Bless, public affairs officer for the 101st Airborne Division.
The division is located at nearby Fort Campbell, on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, and its helicopters often make training runs over the Nashville area.
Kid Rock explained that he regularly acknowledges the pilots when they practice in the area. “It was pretty cool they stopped right there,” he said of Saturday’s maneuver, per Fox News.
“I wasn’t expecting any of that, but I thought it was pretty neat.”
“Fort Campbell leadership is aware of a video circulating on social media depicting AH-64 Apache helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence associated with Mr. Robert Ritchie (also known as ‘Kid Rock’),” Bless said in a statement, NewsChannel 5 reported.
“The command has initiated an investigation to review the circumstances surrounding this activity,” Bless added.
Army officials later amended the statement, describing the probe as an “administrative review” rather than an “investigation.”
“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,” Bless said.
“Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.”
The helicopters also overflew a Nashville “No Kings” protest against the Trump administration on Saturday, but Bless said the training run had nothing to do with the protest.
WATCH:
Bless later told WTVF that 101st Airborne leaders are still in the dark about the reason for the overflight at the protest. “Our pilots do regularly fly routes outside the Fort Campbell area,” the spokesperson said. “We just don’t know if it was incidental or if it was deliberate.”
Army Spokesman Maj. Montrell Russell added, “Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found. Until the review is complete, there will be no further comment.”
