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White House says New Jersey drones were ‘not the enemy’

By Naomi Lim January 28, 2025 | updated 6 months ago

The White House Tuesday said drones spotted over New Jersey and other states in the northeast corner of the country last year did not pose a threat.

During her first briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed “news directly” from President Donald Trump about the drones after she said he had undertaken “research and study” into the issue.

FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT

“The drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the [Federal Aviation Administration] for research and various other reasons,” Leavitt told reporters Tuesday. “Many of these drones were also [flown by] hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In the meantime, in time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”

The drone sightings ramped up over New Jersey in November, including by Trump’s Bedminster resort, prompting temporary flight restrictions over 57 municipalities.

The lack of information provided by former President Joe Biden‘s administration earned his aides bipartisan criticism. During a congressional hearing last year, an FBI official, Robert Wheeler Jr., told the House that he didn’t know what the drones were, setting off a wave of criticism and distrust.

“I don’t have an answer of who’s responsible, one or more people that are responsible, but we’re actively investigating,” Wheeler said in December.

Former White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby sought to better assure the public in December, saying the government has not “identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk” with the New Jersey drones.

Kirby said more than 1 million drones are lawfully registered with the FAA for commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement purposes. Of the 5,000 reported drone sightings, only 100 required further investigation using federal, state, and local resources.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump vowed to share information about the spate of drone sightings, which created panic among members of the public, when he took office. While signing executive orders on Day One in the Oval Office, he was asked by a reporter about the drones, and he directed his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, to investigate.

“I would like to find out what it is and tell the people. In fact, I’d like to do that,” Trump said.

“Could we find out what that was, Susie? Why don’t we find out immediately?”

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