US President-elect Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration over mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey. He suggested that officials should shoot down the drone hovering over the state. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump urged swift action, expressing his frustration.
The drone sightings have alarmed New Jersey residents, and multiple grainy videos and images have circulated on social media. Additionally, the sightings raised concerns among lawmakers. However, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reassured the public, stating that the drone does not pose a “security threat.”
In his post on Friday, Trump questioned the government’s awareness of the drone, stating, “Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT.” He criticized the lack of action despite the numerous sightings.
The FBI and DHS responded with a joint statement on Thursday. They explained that many of the sightings were likely of regular aircraft. According to the statement, “It appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully.” Furthermore, the agencies clarified that no malicious activity was occurring in New Jersey. Earlier this week, the Secret Service also denied involvement with the drones.
On Friday, John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser, spoke to Fox News. He stated that the government didn’t have enough information to take action. “We’re gonna share as much as we can. I understand it’s frustrating for folks, it’s frustrating for us,” Kirby explained.
Drone sightings were also reported in New York and Maryland, which only added to the concerns. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s investigations panel, requested a briefing from the FAA before Congress breaks for the holidays.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Senator Andy Kim voiced his frustration. He and local police had gone out searching for drones overnight, and they saw five to seven lights at a time, which did not match aircraft on flight tracking apps. Kim questioned how the government had failed to track the drones and determine their origin, raising concerns about the government’s ability to detect and counter drones.
Homeland Security Secretary briefed last week on new technology they were deploying but we need details on what those efforts have yielded and if more resources are needed. If they haven’t fully identified the devices yet we still should know what is being done. 9/11
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) December 13, 2024
In response, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy appealed to President Biden, requesting that federal agencies work together to investigate the drone sightings. He sent a letter urging the agencies to collaborate in uncovering the truth behind the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings.
I wrote to @POTUS to express my concerns about reports of unmanned aircraft systems in and around NJ airspace.
Since existing laws limit the ability of state and local law enforcement to counter UAS, more federal resources are needed to understand what is behind this activity. pic.twitter.com/mkeUeW7ury— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) December 13, 2024
Similarly, New York Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the issue. She confirmed that residents in New York had reported seeing drones this week. However, she reassured the public, saying, “At this time, there’s no evidence that these drones pose a public safety or national security threat.” Moreover, she stated that New York is coordinating with the FBI and DHS to investigate the situation further.
