President-elect Donald Trump voiced strong concerns regarding recent mysterious drone sightings reported along the East Coast. He emphasized that the U.S. government needs to be fully informed about the situation and suggested decisive action if clarity is not achieved.
“Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT”
In contrast, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sought to allay public fears during an appearance on CNN’s “The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer.” Mayorkas reassured viewers that there is no evidence of unusual or threatening activity linked to these sightings.
“Let me calm those nerves,” Mayorkas stated. “We have not seen anything unusual. We have not seen any unusual activity. We know of no threat. We know of no nefarious activity.
“I want to repeat that: We have not seen anything unusual; we know of no threat and of any nefarious activity.”
These remarks came amid reports from residents in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania about unidentified flying objects. Military officials have also acknowledged the presence of drones near U.S. bases located in the United Kingdom and Germany.
“Let me explain,” Mayorkas elaborated. “People are reporting sightings of drones. It is very common for individuals who think they see drones to actually see small aircraft, and we have a case of mistaken identity. Also, we have six different people reporting what they think is a drone, and all of a sudden we have reports of six drone sightings. So, there’s some duplication.”
When asked for his response to Trump’s Truth Social post, Mayorkas stuck to his main points. “The statements I have made already are the principal message I want to communicate to the American public.”
He further clarified, “We haven’t seen anything unusual. We know of no known threat. Secondly, we have gone to Congress repeatedly asking for more authority to counter drone activity. And we have also asked for more authority to give to the state and local officials under our supervision because … those authorities need to be expanded.”
Mayorkas noted that he has been in regular communication with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and that DHS maintains daily contact with the state’s police. He highlighted the advanced technology employed by DHS, which has not verified any drone sightings but has identified some as small aircraft.
“That’s not to say there aren’t drones flying in the air, but we have no concern at this point with respect to a threat or any nefarious activity,” Mayorkas remarked. “The reality is, you can have a 15-year-old kid who buys a drone off the shelf and puts it up in the sky.
“We have not seen drones turn their lights off in the dark. We have not seen drones penetrate restricted airspace. Those are two indicia that would give us a cause for concern.”
{Matzav.com}