What’s New
President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that he canceled a trip to Bedminster, New Jersey, due to the ongoing concerns about drone sightings in the region.
Why It Matters
Both the FBI and local police are investigating the drone sightings, which authorities say have been reported in several areas along the Raritan River since November 18. The drones, some reportedly the size of small cars, have been described as operating near military installations and critical infrastructure including Picatinny Arsenal and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
The drones have been also sighted near Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
“They’re very close to Bedminster,” Trump said during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. “I think I won’t spend the weekend in Bedminster. I decided to cancel my trip.”
A helicopter chased away a drone near the golf course on Sunday morning, the state’s former governor said.
Speaking to MSNBC on Sunday, Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican who served as governor in the 1990s, said the government’s “we don’t know” was not a satisfying answer.
“Well, everybody’s talking about them right now,” Whitman said. “I live in Hunterdon County, where this morning there was a helicopter that chased a drone away from Trump’s national golf course [Bedminster] which is next door to the farm. They’re there, but I think also you see a lot of sightings that are small planes that sometimes will look as if it’s hovering over you, the plane, because it’s coming at you. That makes it look as if it’s stationary.
“I don’t think we have to worry, but what’s frustrating is to have the government say well, there’s no problem. We don’t know what it is, but it’s no problem. That’s not a satisfying answer. We need better from the government.”
Former President Donald Trump plays during the pro-am round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, NJ., on July 28, 2022. Trump canceled his trip to Bedminster because of the drones.
Former President Donald Trump plays during the pro-am round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, NJ., on July 28, 2022. Trump canceled his trip to Bedminster because of the drones.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File
What To Know
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published temporary flight restrictions over the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster on November 18 due to the drone sightings.
Trump would not comment Monday if he has received an intelligence briefing on the drones. He did, however, suggest that the government “knows” where the drones are coming from.
“For some reason they don’t want to comment,” Trump said. “I think they’d be better off saying our Department of Affairs or our President knows and for some reason they want to keep people in suspense.”
He continued Monday, “If it’s the enemy, they’d blast out, even if they were late, they’d blast it. Something strange is going on and for some reason they don’t want to tell the people, and they should.”
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s communications spokesperson, Steven Cheung, for comment.
During a media conference on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas suggested that a rule change by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September of 2023 “may be one of the reasons” for the reports of drone sightings at night in the northeast of the country.
A “drone detection system” is being deployed to New York.
“In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Sunday.
JUST IN: Donald Trump says the federal government knows exactly what the drones are up to, says “something strange” is going on.
Trump said he decided to cancel his trip to Bedminster.
“Our military knows where they took off from. If it’s a garage, they can go right into that… pic.twitter.com/3SWX6ny2t7
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 16, 2024
What People Are Saying
FBI previously told Newsweek: “The FBI is aware of reported sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—commonly referred to as drones—observed flying in multiple locations over the past several weeks. The FBI remains engaged with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to share information and protect the public.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, on X: “The public deserves clear answers — we will keep pushing the federal government for more information and resources.”
Republican New Jersey Representative Jeff Van Drew, on Fox News: “From very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources, I’m going to tell you the real deal. Iran launched a mothership probably a month ago that contains these drones.”
Joe Rogan: “I want to believe it’s adderalled up incels holed up in a basement f****** with ‘the man’ more than I want it to be aliens. #iwanttobelieve”
What Happens Next
Senior administration officials from the National Security Council told reporters on Saturday via teleconference that visual observation teams are deployed at various locations throughout New Jersey.
The officials said, “there’s no doubt many” of the unmanned aircrafts are “owned and operated here within the state.” There is no threat at this time, they said.
Update: 12/16/24, 1:27 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.
