Days before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted him earlier this year, the Army’s top general was reportedly told by the official who is now trying to replace him to drop an investigation into the military’s unauthorized helicopter flyby at Kid Rock’s property.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George was abruptly forced to retire less than two months into the U.S. war in Iran, without explanation, in April. The Pentagon announced his departure in a brief statement on social media, saying “we wish him well in his retirement.”
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s second-highest ranking officer who is now the acting Army chief of staff, reportedly told George that Hegseth did not want the investigation to move forward, according to The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the discussions.
George was then forced to step down, according to the newspaper, clearing a path for Hegseth to nominate LaNeve, the secretary’s top aide, to lead the largest branch of the U.S. armed forces amid growing concerns about Hegseth’s leadership.
The Donald Trump-aligned country-rock performer revealed the flyby in videos posted on social media — taken during nationwide “No Kings” demonstration against the Trump administration — showing two helicopters near his Tennessee mansion as he saluted and cheered. The incident drew fierce outrage over military “joyrides” for what appeared to be a politically fueled statement in support of Trump’s MAGA coalition.
open image in galleryThe flight involved two Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade stationed at Fort Campbell.
On March 31, three days after the incident, the Army announced the pilots were suspended and launched an investigation. That same day, Hegseth reversed the decision.
“Thank you Kid Rock,” Hegseth wrote on X at the time. “[U.S. Army] pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”
A spokesperson for the 101st Airborne Division said in a statement at the time that the helicopters were not tied to “No Kings” protests in Nashville, which drew thousands of participants.
Kid Rock later told the Associated Press that he spoke to the pilots, saying, “I think they know this is a pretty friendly spot.”
“I’ve talked to some of these pilots,” he added. “I’ve told them, ‘You guys see me waving when you come by the house?’ I’m like, ‘You guys are always welcome to cruise by my house, any time.’”
open image in galleryHe also praised the pilots on social media while taking a swipe at California Governor Gavin Newsom. “This is a level of respect that s*** for brains Governor of California will never know,” Kid Rock wrote. “God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.”
Trump told reporters at the White House on March 31 that he didn’t see the videos.
“I’m sure they had a good time,” the president said. “Well, they probably shouldn’t have been doing it. You’re not supposed to be playing games, right? But I’d take a look at it. They like Kid Rock? I like Kid Rock. Maybe they were trying to defend him.”
open image in galleryGeorge was expected to serve as the Army’s chief of staff through 2027 to finish a typical four-year assignment in the role.
Hegseth instead asked him to retire, effective immediately, days after the helicopter incident. A few weeks later, Hegseth and Kid Rock flew in Apache helicopters from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
“Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops,” Hegseth wrote in a post on social media alongside photos of himself and the musician at the base.
George declined to comment to The Washington Post, and Pentagon officials did not respond to questions about LaNeve, whose nomination for Army chief of staff is still tied up in Congress.
If the Senate will not vote to confirm LaNeve on a permanent basis, Hegseth can try to keep him on as acting chief of staff indefinitely.
In a statement to The Post, the secretary described LaNeve as “precisely the kind of leader the U.S. Army needs right now” who is “not interested in playing politics in Washington.”
“He is a back-to-basics, no politics, no-nonsense General — exactly what President Trump expects,” Hegseth said, according to The Post. “The critics coming after him are the same out-of-touch so-called insiders who’ve spent years undermining our military with woke policies and endless wars. They hold deep grudges against any commander willing to put America and our troops first, but their days of influence are over.”