President-elect Donald Trump has offered his solution to the mysterious clusters of drones buzzing over New Jersey, New York and other states.
“Mysterious drone sightings across the country,” Trump wrote in a post shared on Truth Social on Friday. “Can this really happen without the knowledge of our government? I don’t think so! Let the public know, now. Otherwise, shoot them!!!”
His post came after several Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tim Burchett, Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, also called on the military to shoot down the drones.
The “fixed-wing aircraft” were first spotted over the Garden State in late November and have continued to be spotted in the weeks since. Residents have reported the drones, some in packs as large as eight, flying mostly through the skies over central and northern New Jersey, including near Donald Trump’s National Golf Club in Bedminster and the military base Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway.
Since then, the sightings have spread to several states along the East Coast.
In New York City, residents of the Bronx and Queens reported seeing multiple drones, while others saw the planes hovering near La Guardia Airport. In response, New York City’s Department of Emergency Management said Thursday it was aware of the reports and was monitoring the situation.
Other sightings have occurred in Maryland, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Thursday that many of the drone sightings in New Jersey are actually legally operated manned aircraft and do not pose a national security or public threat.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security echoed the sentiment in a joint statement, saying their investigation revealed no evidence to suggest the clusters of drones posed any danger to residents.
The agencies have also shot down claims that the planes are linked to a “foreign nexus.”
In a letter to President Biden Thursday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy requested additional resources to understand what’s behind the increased drone activity. He has repeatedly tried to calm residents after the creepy sightings.
