The White House said the mystery drones flown across New Jersey were "authorized to be flown by the FAA" in the first press briefing of the second Trump administration.

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

President Trump said Tuesday that the drone sightings over New Jersey late last year were either authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or were from hobbyists and enthusiasts. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump at her first press briefing that the FAA had flown drones in the area for research purposes.