President Joe Biden has weighed in on the escalating reports of mysterious drone sightings across New Jersey and New York, seeking to calm public concerns. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Biden reassured reporters that there is "no sense of danger" linked to the unexplained activity. "Nothing nefarious apparently, but they're checking it all out," the president stated, marking his first public comments on the matter.
The sightings, which began on November 18, have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories. Lawmakers and citizens alike have pressed federal agencies for answers, questioning the origins and intentions behind the drones. Biden suggested a possible "copycat" phenomenon, saying, "There's a lot of drones authorized up there. I think one started it, and they all-everybody wanted to get in the deal."
Federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pentagon, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have sought to downplay the concerns. In a joint statement issued Monday, they described the objects as "a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned aircraft and even stars mistakenly reported as drones." The agencies added that there was no evidence to suggest the drones posed a threat to public safety or national security.
Despite these reassurances, the sheer volume of reports has alarmed residents and officials. Over 5,000 tips about drone sightings have been submitted to authorities in recent weeks, with approximately 100 deemed worthy of further investigation, according to federal sources. Drone-detecting equipment has since been deployed in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy confirmed.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has called for more transparency, urging the federal government to utilize advanced radar technology to identify and address the drones. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump accused the Biden administration of withholding information. "The government knows what is happening," Trump said in a statement. "Our military knows where they took off from... and for some reason, they don't want to comment."
Trump's remarks reflect broader skepticism among lawmakers. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, attended a classified briefing on the issue Tuesday. He told reporters that officials assured lawmakers the drones were not being operated unlawfully or with malicious intent. However, Himes called for greater public disclosure, saying, "Just putting information out there to fill that vacuum would be helpful."
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also addressed the situation, emphasizing that many drones were operating legally. "We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones," Kirby said. He advocated for Congress to pass legislation granting federal, state, and local entities more authority to address drone-related threats.
The Biden administration's response has done little to quell public unease. Social media has been flooded with videos and photographs of the alleged drones, and some citizens have expressed fears that the objects could pose risks to critical infrastructure. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sought to alleviate these concerns, stating, "We, in the federal government, have deployed additional resources, personnel, technology, to assist the New Jersey State Police in addressing the drone sightings."
Still, doubts persist. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) dismissed the administration's reassurances, posting on social media, "I'll shoot the drones down myself along with every other red-blooded freedom-loving American." Public calls for definitive answers are expected to grow, with lawmakers demanding comprehensive explanations and concrete evidence about the source of the sightings.
