Drones mystery: Andrew Tate demands answers from Musk - 'Explain ..., Elon'

Amid growing speculation about mysterious drones flying over New Jersey and the East Coast that have captured national attention, controversial British-American influencer Andrew Tate took to Twitter to demand answers from SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Tate’s tweet, now viral, read: “Hello @elonmusk. You have SpaceX and speak to the most important people in the world. Please explain the drones. Thanks, The World.” Musk has yet to respond.

Elon Musk on modern warfare: Fighter jets obsolete, drones are the future

Notably, billionaire entrepreneur Musk, recently selected by US President-elect Donald Trump to spearhead efforts to reduce federal government spending, made waves with his bold critique of modern fighter jets and his endorsement of drone warfare.
“Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed,” Musk wrote on his social media platform, X, where he also leads companies like SpaceX and Tesla.

In a series of posts, Musk specifically targeted the F-35 Lightning II, calling it a “shit design” and pointing to consistent manufacturing and performance issues outlined in declassified Pentagon testing reports. He argued that drone swarms controlled by AI hive minds represent the future of air combat.
“Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35,” Musk commented in a post on November 24, alongside a video showing hundreds of drones flying in coordinated formation. In a follow-up post, Musk elaborated, “The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people. This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none. Success was never in the set of possible outcomes.”
His remarks had real-world consequences, as Lockheed Martin, the F-35's primary contractor, saw its stock drop by over 3% following Musk’s comments.
Notably, Musk’s statements align with his growing advocacy for unmanned combat systems, which he argues will revolutionize warfare while saving lives. The tech magnate has been vocal about the inefficiency of manned aircraft and has repeatedly emphasized the inevitability of AI-controlled drones dominating the battlefield.
The Pentagon has yet to respond to Musk's remarks, but his influence on the defense industry and public opinion is undeniable.
Drone sightings create public alarm
Residents in southern and northern New Jersey have described seeing brightly lit objects moving swiftly and emitting a humming noise. In Elsinboro, Susan and Lorelai Woodruff reported nightly visits from these objects since late November.
"I feel like our privacy is invaded," said Lorelai, 52. Portrait photographer Jenna Keen, also from Elsinboro, started a Facebook group to track the sightings, which gained over 600 members within hours.
For many, the unexplained drones have disrupted daily life. Mendham resident Emily Ferguson shared that her children have started closing blinds out of fear. “The kids are asking, ‘What’s going on?’ and I don’t have answers,” she said.
Others, like Michael Ash of Westfield, have observed multiple objects within minutes. “This is such a widespread phenomenon; it’s impossible to ignore,” Ash stated.
Authorities, lawmakers address growing concerns
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sought to reassure the public, stating, "Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones. Some are manned aircraft mistaken for drones. Right now, we are not aware of any malicious activity."
Still, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have criticized federal agencies for their lack of transparency. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer has called for immediate deployment of drone-detection systems in New York and New Jersey, emphasizing, “We need more tools to address this issue.”
Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York has begun receiving drone-detection technology but urged Congress to pass legislation granting local law enforcement greater authority to address drone threats.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in, calling for immediate action: “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!”
Public remains skeptical
Despite reassurances, residents remain uneasy. “It’s unnerving to walk out your door and see this,” said Kieran Kelly, a Morristown technology consultant. Ferguson echoed the frustration: “Officials are trying to gaslight us, acting like we’re conspiracy theorists.”
With theories ranging from extraterrestrial activity to military operations, social media remains flooded with videos and debates. Andrew Tate’s public plea to Musk has added another layer of intrigue to the growing mystery.
For now, the origins of these drones remain unclear, leaving East Coast residents to wonder: What’s next in the skies above?