A recent survey reveals that nearly 80% of Americans believe the US government is concealing information regarding the recent surge of unexplained drone sightings nationwide. Approximately half of the respondents perceive these drones as a potential threat.

More than half of the population is actively following this developing story, and those who are more engaged tend to suspect government involvement or efforts to obscure the truth.

Specifically, 53% of participants view these drones as a threat to national security, while 78% think the government is withholding information from the public.

The CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted from December 18 to 20, included 2,244 US adults and has a margin of error of 2.4 percentage points.

The increase in sightings began in mid-November, with numerous reports of large, unidentified drones appearing at night over New Jersey. This phenomenon quickly attracted media coverage, leading to additional sightings in states such as New York and Pennsylvania, and eventually across various regions of the country, including the southern states, the Midwest, and the Pacific coast.

The increasing frequency of sightings has led local, state, and federal authorities to take measures aimed at alleviating public anxiety and confusion. Despite this, various agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FAA, and Department of Defense (DoD), have not identified any credible threats.

In a joint statement released last week, the FBI, DHS, FAA, and DoD noted, “The FBI has received tips regarding over 5,000 reported drone sightings in recent weeks, resulting in around 100 leads. The federal government is collaborating with state and local officials to investigate these claims. After a thorough review of the technical data and citizen reports, we conclude that the sightings consist of a mix of legitimate commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars that were mistakenly identified as drones.”

State and local law enforcement, along with various independent experts, have reported similarly inconclusive results, although many cases remain open.

While the US military has acknowledged several drone incursions over military installations in the past year, Pentagon officials have stated that such occurrences are not uncommon and are typically not indicative of hostile intent. Nevertheless, public skepticism persists, with many individuals calling for greater transparency and accountability from government representatives.

US President-elect Donald Trump expressed strong opinions on the matter, suggesting that any unidentified aerial object should be shot down.

“Mystery drone sightings are occurring nationwide. Can this really be happening without our government’s awareness? I do not believe so!” he stated in a post on Truth Social last week. “The public deserves to know, and immediately. If not, shoot them down!”