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‘Not the Enemy’: Trump’s New White House Press Sec Confirms New Jersey Drones Were FAA-Approved
Charlie Kirk Staff
01/28/2025
In the first press briefing of President Donald Trump’s second term, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the mystery surrounding the drones that appeared over New Jersey in late 2024. She confirmed that these drones had been “authorized to be flown by the FAA” and attributed much of the activity to research, recreational users, and private individuals.
“I do have news directly from the president of the United States that was just shared with me in the Oval Office, from President Trump directly, an update on the New Jersey drones,” Leavitt stated.
“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones,” she continued. “In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”
In December, Trump suggested that the Biden administration had knowledge of the drones’ origins but was withholding information from the public. While Leavitt confirmed the FAA’s authorization, she did not clarify whether all drones seen outside New Jersey had been legally operated.
“They know where it came from and where it went,” Trump stated at the time. “And for some reason, they don’t want to comment. And I think they’d be better off saying what it is. Our military knows and our president knows. And for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense.”
Prior to his inauguration, Trump had pledged to provide a report on the drone incidents “about one day” into his new administration. Speaking to Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago on Jan. 9, he called it “ridiculous that they are not telling you about what’s going on with the drones.”
The first sightings of these drones were reported on Nov. 19 by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. Their presence led to temporary flight restrictions in New Jersey throughout November and December, particularly over Bedminster—where Trump’s golf club is located—and the Picatinny Arsenal military base. However, on Dec. 19, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson downplayed concerns, explaining that the restrictions were precautionary.
“We continue to assess there is no public safety threat relating to the reported drone sightings,” the spokesperson stated. “In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who requested temporary flight restrictions over their facilities, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over some critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey.”
