Top Army General Was Told to Drop Kid Rock Chopper Probe Before He Was Fired: Report

(Screengrab via X)

Gen. Randy George was reportedly removed from his position as Army chief of staff earlier this year, after being warned to drop a probe into a military fly-by for Kid Rock.

The Washington Post, citing multiple people familiar with the situation, reported on Wednesday that George pushed for an investigation into whether safety protocols were violated by an AH-64 Apache flying by Kid Rock’s Nashville home.

The flyby occurred on March 28, and video shows Kid Rock, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, throwing a salute at the helicopter. George was removed from his position just days later on April 2.

After the fly-by, Kid Rock, real name Robert Ritchie, took a shot at California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), a rumored 2028 candidate, in a social media post.

“This is a level of respect that sh*t for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her,” the musician wrote.

Gen. Chris LaNeve, then serving as vice chair of the Army and now the acting replacement for George, directly warned George about dropping the probe, according to the report. Two of the sources speaking to the Post said George was “troubled by the encounter with LaNeve, who suggested it would be best if the review was scuttled.”

Hegseth sent a statement to the Post on the matter, though he mostly focused on praising LaNeve.

“He is a back-to-basics, no politics, no-nonsense General — exactly what President Trump expects. “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.”

After the viral fly-by at Kid Rock’s house, a probe was announced into the incident, but Hegseth quickly announced that no such probe would be taking place.

“Thank you [Kid Rock]. [U.S. Army] pilots suspension lifted,” Hegseth announced just a couple days after the fly-by. “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”

Trump placed blame for George’s firing on Hegseth during a call with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), according to a New York Times report.

“Tell the general I’m sorry,” he reportedly said after making it clear the removal was on Hegseth.

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