Staff Reports
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently threw up a pair of temporary flight restrictions like a haphazardly thrown doughnut around a golf ball, all thanks to some suspicious drone activity hovering around Trump’s Bedminster golf club in New Jersey. It seems that the skies over the former president’s resort are as contentious as the political landscape below. Reportedly, this aerial drama first ignited on November 18 when concerned citizens in Morris County—just a hop, skip, and a jump from Bedminster—spotted the troublesome drones. The FAA quickly stepped in to issue flight restrictions after the wise words of “federal security partners” echoed in their ears.
In a bizarre twist befitting this era of drone debates, the first of the TFRs (that’s Temporary Flight Restrictions for the uninitiated) covers an area near the Solberg-Hunterdon County Airport, essentially creating a no-fly zone for anyone who might have fancied a quick jaunt over Trump’s plush greens. Another restriction extends over Picatinny Arsenal, a crucial Army installation infamous for its research and development—an area presumably deemed too sensitive for drones that would make even the most reasonable of neighbors raise an eyebrow.
FAA places restriction on ALL drone flights over Picatinny Arsenal and Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster NJ after car size Drones/UFO's have been hovering for weeks in Morris County.
Legacy media is purposely ignoring this story, but local media is all over it. pic.twitter.com/r45kaQOEZf
— RJ Talks (@realRJTalks) December 3, 2024
These restrictions are set to stick around, with the Trump Bedminster TFR scheduled to stay in place for the remainder of the week. As for Picatinny Arsenal, its restrictions linger like Uncle Joe at Thanksgiving dinner, expected to last until December 26. FAA officials stated their commitment to integrating drones into the National Airspace System safely, but one can’t help but wonder if that’s more about keeping the skies clear for private jets than it is about keeping rogue flying machines at bay.
The FBI, not wanting to miss out on this episode of “As the Drone Turns,” joined forces with the New Jersey State Police and the Office of Homeland Security to seek public help in cracking this case of the flying machines. In an odd blend of intrigue and absurdity, reports of clusters of drones have been flocking in, albeit from concerned citizens with their binoculars, snapping grainy pictures in hopes of getting their fifteen minutes of fame. This wasn’t the FBI’s only thing to worry about; they had their sights on fixed-wing aircraft cutting through central New Jersey’s skies, which raises a few eyebrows about what exactly is going on in the airspace above this political battleground.
The story takes an even stranger connect-the-dots turn when it’s revealed that similar drone escapades have been observed over military bases across the pond in the UK. Here, swarms of small flying devices decided to pay a visit to sites housing American jets—because why not share the love (or paranoia) with an ally? The Pentagon later confirmed that these particular drone adventures had not compromised the bases, but the British military was not taking any chances. Extra security measures were deployed, as if guarding against the next Hollywood blockbuster where drones take over the world.
Meanwhile, local law enforcement reassured the public that there was no imminent threat, and the Morris County Sheriff urged anyone with clear drone photos to share their findings. Clearly, this is a case in which it’s better to be an armchair detective than an army officer. Amid all this airborne chaos, there’s no denying the irony that while some claim the drones are a hazard, others are just waiting for their shot at a viral TikTok moment. As this saga continues, one thing is certain: the sky might be the limit, but it’s also a real headache in an already turbulent political climate.
