President Donald Trump has revealed the source of the mysterious drones over New Jersey, saying they were authorized to conduct 'research.'. In the first press briefing of Donald Trump's second administration, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: '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.'.
![[The statements come months after the first drones appeared in November, soaring above military bases and Trump's golf course in Bedminster, sparking fears of foreign threats watching American citizens]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/19/94607633-14334821-image-a-15_1738090952308.jpg)
She said information had come 'directly from the president of the United States that was just shared with me in the Oval Office'. Leavitt continued to explain many of the drones were 'hobbyists, recreational and private individuals' and 'in time, it got worse due to curiosity.'.
![[Officials held several congressional meetings in December to discuss the strange sightings, with the FBI first saying it received more than 3,000 reports in a week's time]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/19/94607647-14334821-image-m-17_1738090988148.jpg)
The statements come months after the first drones appeared in November, soaring above military bases and Trump's golf course in Bedminster, sparking fears of foreign threats watching American citizens. Leavitt assured the public that 'this was not the enemy,' but did not disclose who was using the drones or what type of research was being conducted.
The Biden administration said in December there was no evidence of anything nefarious with the sightings, after they were linked to Iran and China, but claimed it was unable to verify any of the thousands of reports of craft. Today's announcement, while ambiguous, delivers on Trump's promise before the election to disclose the source of the drones when he became president.
