Donald Trump's White House insists that the strange drones seen flying over New Jersey were approved by the government.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from President Trump which read in part, "this was not the enemy."

The mysterious drones sighted over New Jersey in December were authorized to fly and did not originate from a hostile

The unexplained, SUV-sized drones that caused a stir flying over the areas in the Northeast in November and December have returned. As of Sunday, Jan. 25.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the mystery drones flown across New Jersey in late 2024 were "authorized to be flown by the FAA" for research "and various other reasons" in the first press briefing of President Donald Trump's second administration.

The drones seen flying over New Jersey were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration, the White House said on Tuesday. The drones were seen not only over the Garden State but over other states in November, Fox News reported.

Mysterious drones that hovered over New Jersey last month were authorized by the FAA for research and recreation purposes, the White House says.

Large volumes pose challenges to air traffic control, which has faced severe staffing shortages for years, according to experts.

The FAA has said that all controllers have to meet tough testing and training standards and go through a lengthy certification process.

This week, the White House's latest revelations involving the ongoing "mystery drone" saga only raise more questions.

In her first official press briefing on Tuesday, President Trump's new press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, revealed that the drones had simply been authorized by the Federal