Joe Rogan has shared his unease about the mysterious drones that have been buzzing across the tristate area, saying a recent theory about their purpose has left him “genuinely concerned”.
As reported by CBS News and a multiple other outlets, residents in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and other East Coast states have expressed concerns following multiple drone sightings, with photos and videos dominating social media feeds.
Rogan’s comments came in response to a TikTok video posted Saturday by John Ferguson, the CEO of a Kansas-based remote aircraft system company.
In the video, Ferguson speculated that the drones might be equipped to “smell” harmful substances such as gas leaks or radioactive material.
The TikTok Theory
“The only reason why you would ever fly an unmanned aircraft at night is if you’re looking for something,” Ferguson said in the video, clarifying that he doesn’t think the drones are malicious.
“My belief is they’re trying to smell something on the ground — gas leaks, radioactive material, whatever,” he added, noting that his theory was based on his expertise but remained unverified.
Ferguson was upfront about the speculative nature of his claims. “I’ve not bounced this off anybody,” he admitted. “So if you think it’s bulls**t, whatever, that’s cool. I don’t want to spread misinformation, as we know that there’s a lot of that going around.”
The theory gained traction online, with Rogan sharing the video and commenting on X (formerly Twitter), “This is the first video about these drones that has got me genuinely concerned.”
Government Officials Push Back
The drone sightings, which have left many New York and New Jersey residents unnerved, have drawn scrutiny from both the public and politicians. However, government officials have sought to downplay concerns.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby recently dismissed the idea that the drones pose a public safety threat, suggesting many sightings are actually manned aircraft.
“Many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully,” Kirby told reporters, adding: “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”
Similarly, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the issue in an interview with ABC News on Sunday.
“Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones,” Mayorkas said. “Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones. And we do see duplicative reporting.”
He emphasized that DHS has personnel and technology in place to investigate the sightings and would alert the public if foreign involvement or criminal activity is identified. “Right now, we are not aware of any,” he added.
Political Pressure Mounts
While federal officials maintain there is no immediate reason for alarm, bipartisan pressure is mounting for more transparency.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has urged federal agencies to ramp up their efforts to identify the drones, calling on the FBI, DHS, and the Federal Aviation Administration to deploy radar technology to investigate the swarms, per CBS News.
Schumer, along with Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Andy Kim (D-NJ), recently sent a letter to the agencies demanding answers about what actions are being taken to “identify and address the source of these incursions”.
Additionally, in a letter to President Joe Biden, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called for more resources to be directed toward understanding the increased presence of the drones.
“The continued reporting of UAS activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms,” Murphy said in his letter. “I respectfully urge you to continue to direct the federal agencies involved to work together until they uncover answers as to what is behind the UAS sightings.”
Unanswered Questions
For now, the origins and purpose of the drones remain shrouded in mystery. Rogan’s concerns, shared by many in the tristate area, highlight the growing tension between speculation and government reassurances as the sightings continue to dominate public discussion.
The Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on the latest theory, leaving both officials and residents waiting for answers.
