At the first official White House press briefing by the Trump administration, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt finally gave the public some answers on the mysterious drones that were sighted flying over New Jersey and other locations late last year. The drones, she said, were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and while some were being used for research purposes, others were recreational and flown "out of curiosity."

🚨 #BREAKING: WHITE HOUSE DELIVERS ANSWERS ON DRONES

PRESS SEC LEAVITT: The drones over NJ were authorized by the FAA for research and various other reasons, and many were hobbyists and recreational. It got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/6h9DoI4gFa

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 28, 2025

Miss Leavitt said:

After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones. In time it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy. (inaudible) A statement from the President of the United States to start this briefing with some news and with that I will turn if over to questions.

We reported on these drones at the time; the previous administration was not forthcoming on the topic, leading to a great deal of speculation.

Previously on RedState: UPDATE: White House Speaks Out on NJ Drone Mystery, 'Answers' Will Satisfy No One

WATCH: Is an Iranian Mothership Launching the Mysterious, New Jersey Drone Swarm? (Updated)

Last December, there was even a rumor about an Iranian drone tender ship launching these drones; the Biden administration's Department of Defense denied that rumor:

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh was just asked about Van Drew's comments in a press briefing and had this to say:

"There is not any truth to that. There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there is no so-called 'mothership' launching drones toward the United States."

The drone sightings started in November of last year. Interestingly, the FAA, which supposedly authorized the New Jersey drone flights, also temporarily banned drone flights over several specific areas in New Jersey late last year and into January:

The reports of drones began mid-November, and statements from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said there have been over 5,000 sightings of drones across states on the East Coast.

"Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones," Leavitt read. "In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily banned drones in areas of New Jersey in December through the middle of January. New York also temporarily banned flying drones over some of the state's "critical infrastructure sites." No-fly zones included Far Rockaway, Brooklyn and two communities on Long Island, Ridge and Garden City, according to the FAA.

There have been significant advances in drone technology in recent years, and some are apparently sizable - large enough to carry dangerous payloads. Drones can also be used for photographic or video surveillance, leading many in the affected areas to be concerned that the machines being sighted carry with them some danger. According to the White House, this isn't the case. At least, not this time.

While this is the stuff of which conspiracy theories are spun, now, at least, we would seem to have an answer.