On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey that began in November “were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons.”
“Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. And in time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy,” she told reporters.
The sightings, which fascinated the nation and even occurred over Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, prompted the FAA to restrict drone use in some parts of New Jersey.
The FBI Newark, NJ State Police, and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness asked the public to provide information on the sightings.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul all expressed concern and a sense of urgency about getting to the bottom of the issue.
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said the drones across New Jersey might be looking for radioactive material. New Jersey’s Democrat Congressman Van Drew even claimed Iran sent them. However, the Pentagon denied the claim.
On Dec. 13, Trump said in a Truth Social post that the “Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country” were likely not operating without government knowledge.
He said that if they were being flown under the radar, people should “shoot them down!!!”
Three days later, Trump claimed “the government knows what’s happening.”
On Monday, Trump asked White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to get to the bottom of the sightings, which resulted in Tuesday’s statement from the White House press secretary.