White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave a highly anticipated explanation for the mass sightings of unusual aircraft around New Jersey over the past couple of months before turning to questions at her first press briefing of the new term.

"This was not the enemy," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement on New Jersey's mysterious drone sightings.

Before taking questions at her first news briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave an update she said came “directly” from President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the drones were for research purposes and 'not the enemy.'

New Jersey residents were concerned over the mysterious drones that flew above their homes, sparking conspiracy theories about the source.

The mysterious drones seen in the skies over New Jersey sparked questions for weeks, and now, we have some answers. President Donald Trump says they were a part of an FAA research project. CBS News New York's Nick Caloway has reaction from New Jersey residents.

Research company Enigma Labs said it has tallied 650 sightings nationally described as drone-related since November, with most concentrated in the Northeast.

Nichols spent nearly three years at the FAA after being appointed by former President Joe Biden in January 2022. He joins as a partner and co-chair of the transportation practice, working alongside co-chair Paul Hemmersbaugh in Washington, D.C.

The White House released new information Tuesday on the mysterious drones seen across New Jersey skies late last year, but one state congressman isn't satisfied with their answers.

The remarks from Karoline Leavitt, the new White House press secretary, echoed earlier remarks by the Biden administration about the sightings.

Mysterious drones that hovered over New Jersey last month were authorized by the FAA for research and recreation purposes, the White House says.