What's New
President Joe Biden called the Pentagon four times in December to seek updates about mystery drones sighted over New Jersey, according to a Sunday report by The Wall Street Journal.
The sightings, which began in November, have sparked public fascination and rumors of foreign involvement.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Department of Defense via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The drones have raised national security concerns and prompted investigations by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Intelligence officials have clarified that there is no evidence connecting the sightings to a foreign actor or indicating any malicious intent, however speculation among lawmakers, local officials and members of the public is growing, with many saying the government is not providing good enough answers.
What To Know
According to the Journal's report, Biden's first called Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on December 12, a month after the sightings began.
Biden reportedly called him again, seeking updates, for the following three days, but was told the drones were likely hobbyist aircraft or standard manned flights, with no indication of foreign adversary involvement.
On December 16, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters that many of the drones sighted were operating legally and lawfully. Kirby said: "We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones,"
It was December 18 before Biden himself publicly addressed the issue, saying the drones were "nothing nefarious, apparently."
While the White House has suggested there may not be anything unusual about the sightings, the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a temporary ban on drones in areas of New Jersey and in New York citing "special security reasons."
What People Are Saying
President Joe Biden, to reporters on December 17: "[about the drone sightings] Nothing nefarious apparently ... no sense of danger."
Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.), to The Wall Street Journal: "I just didn't see the commensurate type of response by the administration to meet that level of public interest."
President-elect Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "Mystery Drone Sightings all over the country. Can this really be happening without our government's knowledge? ... Shoot them down!!!"
What Happens Next
Federal investigations into the sightings are ongoing. Temporary flight restrictions remain in place in New Jersey and other northeastern states until mid-January, and federal agencies are monitoring the situation.
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