Sign in

Chris Christie says mysterious drones flew over his NJ home — rips DHS chief Mayorkas for not taking action

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has expressed frustration with federal officials’ handling of mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey and across the country, including incidents near his own home.

Christie criticized Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for what he described as dismissive and vague responses to growing public concerns.

Appearing on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Christie suggested that a lack of transparency from federal authorities is fueling panic over the unexplained drone activity.

Christie called out Mayorkas and other federal officials for failing to provide clear explanations about the drone sightings, which have been reported in large numbers in New Jersey, New York, and beyond.

“They’re not answering the questions,” Christie said, referring to Mayorkas’ recent comments.

Mayorkas had told Stephanopoulos earlier in the program that his department was “monitoring” the drone activity and had not observed anything unusual.

He also emphasized the need for expanded authority to address the situation, including potentially downing drones when necessary.

“This Is Not Normal”

Christie took issue with Mayorkas’ assertion that the drone activity wasn’t unusual.

“To say this is not unusual activity, it’s just wrong!” Christie declared. “I’ve lived in New Jersey my whole life. This is the first time that I’ve noticed drones over my house.”

Mayorkas had sought to contextualize the sightings, noting that thousands of drones are flown daily across the United States and that rule changes by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2023 now allow drones to operate at night.

He suggested that increased nighttime sightings might simply reflect a new reality rather than something sinister.

“That is the reality,” Mayorkas said. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.”

Christie argued that vague assurances like those from Mayorkas are inadequate and have left the public feeling ignored. He shared a recent personal encounter to illustrate the depth of public concern.

“I was in a restaurant in Monmouth County on Friday night. People at the bar were coming up to me saying, ‘Governor Murphy won’t tell me anything. The president won’t tell me anything,’” Christie recounted, referring to current New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Christie said that the lack of concrete information creates a vacuum filled by speculation and conspiracy theories, such as claims from local Congressman Jeff Van Drew that the drones are linked to an Iranian mothership offshore.

“If you don’t fill that vacuum, then all the conspiracy theories get filled in there,” Christie warned.

Christie urged the Biden Administration and state authorities to be more vocal and transparent about what they know and what actions are being taken.

“The Biden Administration and state authorities have to be more vocal and let people know exactly what they are doing,” Christie said.

He also agreed with Mayorkas’ call for expanded authority to address the drone issue but maintained that more immediate and clearer communication is essential to ease public concerns.

The drone sightings, particularly along the East Coast, have left many residents perplexed and uneasy. Reports of the mysterious flying objects began in November and have since surged, with thousands of sightings reported in New Jersey alone in December.

While Mayorkas and other officials have downplayed the sightings as routine, the lack of a thorough explanation has done little to quell public anxiety.

Some experts have raised concerns about the potential for drones to pose security risks, while others have pointed out that the sightings could simply reflect the growing prevalence of drone technology.

Until authorities provide concrete answers, however, the mystery surrounding the drones is likely to persist—and so will the frustration of people like Chris Christie and his fellow New Jersey residents.