White House says New Jersey drones were ‘not the enemy’ – Washington Examiner
The White House recently addressed concerns regarding drone sightings over New Jersey, asserting that these drones do not pose a threat.During her first briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared that President Donald Trump had looked into the issue, emphasizing that the drones flying in large numbers were authorized by the Federal Aviation administration (FAA) for research and recreational purposes. Leavitt reassured reporters that these drones were not operated by any malicious entities but rather by hobbyists and private individuals.
Drone sightings intensified in New Jersey last November, leading to temporary flight restrictions in over 57 municipalities, and previous administrations, including Joe Biden’s, faced criticism for their lack of interaction regarding these incidents. An FBI official stated that investigations were ongoing to determine the origins of the drones, but there was no evidence indicating any security risks. John Kirby from the National Security Council added that of the thousands of drone sightings reported, only a small fraction warranted further investigation. Trump expressed a desire to uncover information about the drone incidents and investigate their origins during his time in office.
White House says New Jersey drones were ‘not the enemy’
The White House Tuesday said drones spotted over New Jersey and other states in the northeast corner of the country last year did not pose a threat.
During her first briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed “news directly” from President Donald Trump about the drones after she said he had undertaken “research and study” into the issue.
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“The drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the [Federal Aviation Administration] for research and various other reasons,” Leavitt told reporters Tuesday. “Many of these drones were also [flown by] hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In the meantime, in time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”
The drone sightings ramped up over New Jersey in November, including by Trump’s Bedminster resort, prompting temporary flight restrictions over 57 municipalities.
The lack of information provided by former President Joe Biden‘s administration earned his aides bipartisan criticism. During a congressional hearing last year, an FBI official, Robert Wheeler Jr., told the House that he didn’t know what the drones were, setting off a wave of criticism and distrust.
“I don’t have an answer of who’s responsible, one or more people that are responsible, but we’re actively investigating,” Wheeler said in December.
Former White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby sought to better assure the public in December, saying the government has not “identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk” with the New Jersey drones.
Kirby said more than 1 million drones are lawfully registered with the FAA for commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement purposes. Of the 5,000 reported drone sightings, only 100 required further investigation using federal, state, and local resources.
Trump vowed to share information about the spate of drone sightings, which created panic among members of the public, when he took office. While signing executive orders on Day One in the Oval Office, he was asked by a reporter about the drones, and he directed his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, to investigate.
“I would like to find out what it is and tell the people. In fact, I’d like to do that,” Trump said.
“Could we find out what that was, Susie? Why don’t we find out immediately?”
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