The numerous drones that caused concern among New Jersey residents in November and December were authorized by the federal government, according to President Trump’s administration.
“Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. “In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”
It was a similar explanation to what then-President Biden’s administration said about the drones as they befuddled tristate-area residents.
A Dec. 19 statement from federal agencies led by the Defense Department said the drones were mostly “a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and stars mistakenly reported as drones.”
However, before he took over in the White House, Trump insisted that Biden’s administration knew more about the drones.
“I think it’s ridiculous that they are not telling you about what’s going on with the drones,” he said on Jan. 9.
Beginning in mid-November in Morris County, N.J., the reported drone sightings soon spread throughout New Jersey, and left residents frustrated and confused. Even Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted that something had to be done about the mess, advocating for a “state-of-the-art” drone detection system for the region.