Donald Trump has weighed in on the ongoing mystery of unexplained drone sightings along the East Coast, urging federal authorities to either clarify the situation or shoot down the unidentified flying objects. Federal officials, however, maintain that there is no immediate threat to public safety and are investigating the reports.
In a Friday post on his platform, Truth Social, the former president expressed skepticism, suggesting the government knows more than it is revealing. “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 wrote.
The sightings, which began last month in Morris County, New Jersey, have since spread to New York, Connecticut, and other areas. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have been analyzing the reports to determine whether people are witnessing drones, manned aircraft, or something else entirely. In a joint statement, the agencies said:
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus. Upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space.”
Despite the reassurances, sightings have continued. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan even shared footage of what he described as “dozens of large drones” flying over his property on Thursday night.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby addressed the issue during an appearance on Fox News, emphasizing that authorities are taking the reports seriously. “I’m not going to lie to you or to the American people, and I’m not going to say we know something when we don’t,” Kirby said, encouraging individuals with evidence to come forward.
When asked why the government doesn’t simply shoot one down to investigate, Kirby replied, “We don’t have enough conclusions to take that kind of a policy action. You’re not going to want to shoot something down where it could hit somebody’s house, or hurt somebody.”
