Trump Weighs In On Drones, Believes ‘Government Knows What is Happening’

President-elect Donald Trump addressed the topic of unidentified flying objects and announced a major investment in the U.S. economy during a press event at Mar-a-Lago, where he was joined by SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son.

Son revealed SoftBank’s ambitious plan to invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years, a move he attributed to renewed confidence in the U.S. economy following Trump’s election. “My confidence level in the U.S. economy has tremendously increased with [Trump’s] victory,” Son said. “Because of that, I’m committing $100 billion and 100,000 jobs into the United States. This is double of last time... because President Trump is a double-down president.”

Trump called the announcement a testament to “monumental confidence in America’s future” and playfully encouraged Son to raise the investment to $200 billion. Son chuckled in response, saying he would “try to make it happen.” Trump praised Son as “one of the most accomplished business leaders of our time,” adding, “The people of Japan and all over the world are very proud of him.”

Following the announcement, Trump fielded questions from reporters. When asked about recent sightings of “unidentified objects” over Eastern states, including drones flying over New Jersey, he offered his perspective.

“The government knows what is happening,” Trump said. “Our military knows where they took off from. If it’s a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went. And for some reason, they don’t want to comment.”

Trump suggested there might be a lack of transparency on the issue. “I think they’d be better off saying what it is our military knows and what our president knows,” he continued. “And for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense.”

Pouring cold water on speculation that a foreign adversary was involved, Trump added, “I can’t imagine it’s the enemy because if it was the enemy, that [would be] blasted out.” He expressed concern over the sightings near his Bedminster property, noting, “They’re very close to Bedminster. I think maybe I won’t spend the weekend in Bedminster. I’ve decided to cancel my trip.”

When pressed on whether he had received an intelligence briefing on the drones, Trump declined to elaborate, saying, “I don’t want to comment on that.”

Son: “Thank you so much. I’m very, very excited. I would really like to celebrate the great victory of President Trump. My confidence level in the U.S. economy has tremendously increased with his victory. So because of that, I’m now excited to commit this $100 billion and 100,000 jobs into the United States. This is double of last time, as President Trump said. Because I say, oh, President Trump is a double-down president. I’m going to have to double down, you know? $100 billion and 100,000 jobs. This is my confidence level, because that has doubled down. So I am truly excited to make this happen. And of course, business is important. Technology is important. But one more thing I’m really hoping is that President Trump will bring the world into peace again. That’s my additional hope. And I think he will actually make it happen.”

Trump: “I’m going to ask him right now, would you make it $200 billion instead of $100 billion? (Laughter) He can actually — believe it or not, he can actually afford to do that. Would you do that?”

Son: “Well, my promise is $100 billion, but he’s now asking to do more. I think, you know, with your leadership, my partnership with you, with your support, I will try to make it happen.”

Trump: “That’s great, thank you.”

Son: “All right.”

Trump: “Two hundred. He’ll make it happen. $200 billion investment. That’s great.”

Son: “He is a great negotiator.” (Laughter)

Trump: “He’s a brilliant guy and doing an unbelievable job. And the people of Japan and all over the world are very proud of him. Tremendous respect for himself. What he does, what he just did, and I would be surprised if it didn’t go to $200 [billion]. When you say you’ll try, I know you’ll do it.”

Son: “I will really try. And I need your support, though.”

Trump: “You’ll have my support.”

Son: “All right.”