‘I Will Take It Down’: Biden Addresses ‘Recent Aerial Objects’ Shot Down By US Military
Joe Biden,China,Chinese Spy Balloons,Defense And Security,Foreign Affairs,Biden Administration,White House,Politics
President Joe Biden addressed the public Thursday about the “aerial objects” shot down by the U.S. military in recent weeks.
Biden’s address is the first time he has spoken at length to the public about the Chinese spy balloon which was shot down Feb. 4 after it had been hovering above the U.S. for seven days, and the three unidentified flying objects which were shot down near Alaska, Canada and Michigan in the days after.
“I gave the order to take down these objects due to hazards to civilian commercial air traffic, and because we could not rule out the surveillance risk of sensitive facilities,” Biden said.
The “Intelligence Community’s current assessment is that these three objects were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions, studying weather, or conducting other scientific research,” he added. “Make no mistake: if any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people, I will take it down.”
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Headline Roundup
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Leaders to Meet to Begin Dissolution of UK - The Telegraph
September 13th, 2026
Headline Roundup
CDC Declares End to Cyclospora Outbreak Despite Ongoing Investigations
September 11th, 2026
News
What the Media Missed: Children Recovered, Heat Deaths Soared, and More
Malayna J. Bizier
September 12th, 2026
Misinformation Watch
Misinformation Watch: Was Zelenskyy’s Plane ‘Almost Hit’ by a Drone in Moldova?
Andy Gorel
September 12th, 2026