Americans want to truth as soon as possible.
In the days leading up to his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump made it clear that one of his top priorities would be addressing the rising concern over drone sightings in American airspace. Speaking at a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump expressed his frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding these incidents, which have caused unease among Americans.
Trump promised to release a detailed report on drone activity shortly after taking office, vowing to expose the truth behind these mysterious sightings. “It’s ridiculous that they’re not telling you what’s going on with the drones,” he stated, referencing reports of drones over his own Bedminster, New Jersey, property. Trump pointed out that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin had also raised concerns about the widespread presence of drones over his state, noting that the issue was being ignored by authorities.
According to reports, agencies like the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Pentagon had been investigating over 500 public tips related to drone sightings, only to conclude that there was no immediate threat. However, Trump questioned why the government had not been more forthcoming with information and hinted that the lack of transparency might be intentional. “It could be us sending drones for research, but I hope it’s not an enemy,” he said. He assured the American public that his administration would investigate further, with plans to release findings on January 21.
Governor Youngkin emphasized the national security implications of the drone incursions, especially given Virginia’s proximity to military and intelligence facilities. “For 24 months running, we have had drone incursions over protected airspace, and we still do not understand why,” he said, calling the situation unacceptable and expressing confidence that Trump’s leadership would get to the bottom of it.
Other Republican governors, such as Louisiana’s Jeff Landry and Wyoming’s Mark Gordon, shared similar frustrations. Landry revealed that drones had been spotted over critical infrastructure in his state, including nuclear reactors, and criticized the FAA for its slow response to the growing threat. Gordon echoed these concerns, pointing out that Wyoming’s critical infrastructure was also vulnerable to digital surveillance by drones.
As the country faces growing threats from both domestic and foreign actors, Trump’s commitment to tackling the drone issue signals a new direction for national security. “They know what’s going on, and it’s very strange that they aren’t talking about it,” Trump said, referring to the Biden administration’s lack of action on the matter. Under Trump’s leadership, Republican governors are optimistic that the issue of drone surveillance will finally be addressed head-on.
