White House Gives Explanation For NJ Drone Mystery

NEW JERSEY — Many of the drones that people have spotted buzzing around New Jersey in recent months were actually approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the White House said on Tuesday.

Theories abounded about the mysterious flights, as communities across the state reported seeing several drones hovering at a time, or operating near critical infrastructure. President Donald Trump had pledged to get to the bottom of the issue, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a number of the drones were authorized "for research."

"This was not the enemy," Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday.

The president's own Bedminster golf club is one of the areas of New Jersey where drone flight restrictions were issued, and Trump said previously that he thought the Biden administration knew more than they were letting on about the mysterious flights.

Leavitt said Trump had just shared an update with her in the Oval Office before her press conference.

"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," she said.

"Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones," Leavitt continued.

Authorities began investigating reports of drones hovering around Garden State communities and near important infrastructure more than two months ago, with multiple federal agencies involved in the investigation.

Flight restrictions remain in effect over Trump's Somerset County golf club until Jan. 31, per the Federal Aviation Administration.