Mysterious drones in the USA are fueling conspiracy theories

Sightings of alleged drones on the US East Coast continue to puzzle people and fuel conspiracy theories. An overview of the incidents and the reactions to them.

That's what it's about

Reports of sightings of ominous drones on the US East Coast have been circulating for days. Videos of bright lights in the sky are circulating on social media, causing wild speculation. Theories online range from espionage to secret military exercises to extraterrestrial life.

Here's what the alleged drones look like:

US government appeased again

The US government has so far held back from providing detailed statements and stated that the aircraft involved were manned. Representatives repeatedly assured that the objects posed no danger to the public. A Department of Homeland Security representative said there is currently no evidence that there is a threat to public safety.

The representative from the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that they did not want to dismiss all reports as unreliable. But the extent of actual drone activity is “likely less” than what has been reported. According to the Federal Police FBI, around 5,000 tips have now been received. Of those, around 100 turned out to be relevant, said a senior FBI official.

Most suspected drone sightings also come from the ground, the official said. There are only “very, very few” reports of pilots flying drones from the air. Many reported sightings will also be located near larger airports. The investigations now continued. Videos are evaluated and witnesses are interviewed.

A Pentagon official reported suspected drone sightings over two military installations in New Jersey. “This is not a new problem for us,” he said. There is no evidence of “malicious intent” or a “foreign actor.”

Trump reacts brutally as usual

The future US President Donald Trump has now also joined the debate. “Mysterious drone sightings across the country. Can this really happen without the knowledge of our government? “I don’t believe that,” Trump wrote on his online mouthpiece Truth Social. “Inform the public, immediately.” “Otherwise they will shoot!” he demanded in his usual radical style.

The government of US President Joe Biden, who is still in office, repeatedly tried to appease. “We know nothing of a threat or nefarious activity,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in an interview with CNN. It often happens that “people who think they see drones actually see small airplanes.” Young people could also buy a drone and fly it into the sky.

Local politicians criticize the government and demand clarification

However, some local politicians in the affected regions were no longer satisfied with the historical answers and called for clarification and a more in-depth investigation of the reports. “I am sincerely grateful for your administration's leadership on this matter, but it has become clear that more resources are needed to fully understand the background to these activities,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement Conversation said letter written to Biden.

The ongoing reporting on questions about the alleged drones has raised more than answers and led to a number of conspiracy theories online, the Democrat said.

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan also wrote on Platform X that he had seen and filmed dozens of larger drones in the sky above his residence in Davidsonville, Maryland. The authorities need to do more to clear up the matter.

Republicans fire against Biden administration

Parts of the Republicans are wasting no time in telling lies to the Biden administration. Radical Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Washington of lying. “It's a slap in the face that the Pentagon continues to tell the American people that they don't know who is flying the drones over New Jersey,” he said.

Is she right for once? Marjorie Taylor Greene accuses the Pentagon of hiding something.Image: Keystone

Memories of the China Balloon come back

The alleged sightings in the sky are reminiscent of the appearance of a huge Chinese surveillance balloon over US territory almost two years ago. At that time, the USA accused Beijing of a major espionage program and shot down the balloon. China rejected the allegations and spoke of a weather balloon.

The US military then shot down more mysterious flying objects over the USA and Canada. The US government later said that at least the latter objects were probably not flying objects from the spy balloon fleet from China.

According to a report by “Spiegel”, several drones have flown over sensitive industrial facilities in Germany and the US military base in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, in recent weeks. The news magazine reports on a confidential report from German security authorities. It was said that in the evening hours of December 3rd and 4th there were numerous drone sightings over the US military compound, which the Americans used as a military hub in Europe. A spokeswoman for the base confirmed the views to “Spiegel”. Nothing is known about a possible connection to the sightings on the US East Coast. (con/sda/dpa)