Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for promoting conspiracy theories, has claimed that the U.S. government is controlling the drones spotted over New Jersey and New York. The sightings have puzzled officials, who have not provided clear answers about what the objects are or why they’re appearing in the skies.
Greene, a prominent member of the MAGA movement, made the claim on social media late Saturday. She said, “The government is in control of the drones and refuses to tell the American people what is going on. It really is that bad.” However, she offered no evidence to back up her statement.
The Q-Anon congresswoman continued to stir the pot by sharing a video from John Ferguson, CEO of Saxon Aerospace, who speculated that the drones might be patrolling East Coast highways looking for things like missing nuclear warheads or radioactive materials. Greene praised Ferguson for his “courage” and “professional viewpoint,” adding that the government should explain the truth if there’s a danger to Americans.
Her comments drew immediate backlash. Democratic Rep. Jim Himes from Connecticut called Greene’s posts “irresponsible,” while former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger pointed out that the videos being shared online mostly show airplanes, not drones. Kinzinger also said he had spent days reviewing the footage, which he found to be misidentified aircraft.
Despite the lack of proof, Greene isn’t the only MAGA figure spreading theories about the mysterious drone sightings. Steve Bannon, a former strategist for Donald Trump, also blamed President Biden’s administration for the objects in the sky. At a Young Republican Club event in New York, Bannon suggested the drones could be part of an effort to undermine the incoming Trump administration.
The federal government, on the other hand, has not confirmed any connection between the drones and criminal activity, national security threats, or foreign actors. A senior Biden official said that there is no evidence to suggest that the drones are anything more than unidentified flying objects, and they’ve admitted they don’t know what they are. This uncertainty has fueled public speculation and conspiracy theories.
Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that her state would be deploying a new drone detection system to figure out what’s happening. She and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy have written to President Biden, urging the federal government to provide more clarity on the situation.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged that some of the sightings are, in fact, drones, but clarified that many were likely misidentified aircraft.
Despite the government’s attempts to clear up the confusion, Greene and Bannon continue to stoke fears, using the uncertainty to push their own narratives. With no definitive answers yet, the conspiracy theories surrounding the drone sightings show no sign of fading anytime soon.
