Army launches inquiry into Kid Rock copter flyover

The U.S. Army has launched an inquiry into pro-MAGA singer Kid Rock (born Robert James Ritchie) after he posted a pair of videos on X featuring fly-bys from two American military helicopters. The musician, who made headlines last month for starring in Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show,” posted a pair of videos Saturday featuring the helicopters. In the videos, Kid Rock waves at the helicopters from his Tennessee mansion, clapping and raising his fist next to a miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty. The shot shows Rock’s room emblazoned with a large sign identifying it as “The Southern White House.” The ordeal is reminiscent of those videos of toddlers shrieking in joy at the arrival of their favorite garbage truck, albeit a much harder watch. Rock captioned the first video, “This is a level of respect that shit for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.” 

In response to scrutiny of the visit, Maj. Jonathan Bless, a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division where the helicopters are based, said in a statement that a review would “assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements.” Bless later told local TV station NewsChannel 5 that 101st Division pilots “regularly fly routes” near Ritchie’s house. “We just don’t know if it was incidental or if it was deliberate,” he said of the recent apparent detour. The helicopters were later identified as Boeing AH-64 Apaches, attack helicopters that have been used in Operation Desert Storm and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Questions surrounding the copters’ purpose in Nashville arose after they were seen flying low over the city’s iteration of the March 28 No Kings rally, a large-scale protest against the Trump administration. Army officials have stated the helicopters were doing training flights. As of 2022, Apache helicopters cost $5,171 per hour to operate. That’s a lot of money to waste on a house call.

Kid Rock has never enlisted or served in any branch of the U.S. military. Instead, he has shown the depth of his patriotism by constructing a 27,000 square-foot “Mini White House” property outside Nashville. Aside from the aforementioned Statue of Liberty replica, the compound includes a barber shop, a gas station, a bowling alley, and a golden urinal. Whether Ritchie’s “Southern White House” will also undergo major construction to install a gilded ballroom without a functioning front door remains to be seen.

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