Trump and White House clash over mysterious US drone sightings

The White House insisted Monday that the mysterious drones that have caused panic in parts of the United States were flying legally, after President-elect Donald Trump suggested there had been a government cover-up.

Trump said the US government ‘knows what’s going on’ as he discussed the wave of sightings over New Jersey and New York that have triggered something increasingly akin to panic massive.

Outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration has faced growing criticism for failing to clearly identify the origin of the objects, but on Monday rejected any suggestions of a cover-up.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby insisted the government was “open and transparent,” and said most of the sightings involved drones operating “legally and lawfully.”

“We estimate that sightings to date include a combination of legal commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and even stars that have been reported by error like drones,” Kirby told reporters.