FACT CHECK: Viral X Video Does Not Authentically Show Drone Flying Over New Jersey

A viral video shared on X purports to show a drone flying over New Jersey.

Oh, good, it looks like we’re dealing with imperial interceptors. Nice. pic.twitter.com/W7Kxcio3JX

— Boston Smalls (@smalls2672) December 12, 2024

Verdict: False

The video is not authentic but has been digitally created by TikTok user @iceman_fox1, who shares “mixed reality digital aviation videos.” The social media user who posted the video confirmed he had created the video in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the U.S. should take drones spotted in New Jersey “out of the skies,” according to The Associated Press. The drones have been seen near U.S. military research and manufacturing facility Picatinny Arsenal as well as President-Elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, the outlet reported.

The X video, viewed over 30,000 times, purports to show a drone flying over New Jersey. In the video, a small, unidentified drone can be seen flying across the sky at night.

“Oh, good, it looks like we’re dealing with imperial interceptors. Nice,” the video’s caption reads.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact reviewed the video and traced it to TikTok, where it was shared by user @iceman_fox1. The video’s caption indicates it is not authentic but has been “created digitally.” The same video was also uploaded to YouTube by the same user.

“An unidentified drone is spotted flying at low altitude somewhere over New Jersey. This video was created digitally,” the video’s description reads.

The user’s TikTok and YouTube accounts both show multiple “mixed reality digital aviation videos.”

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find the video referenced in any credible news reports about drones that were recently spotted flying over New Jersey. Actually, the opposite is true. On Dec. 12, Snopes debunked the claim. The outlet also traced the video to the same TikTok user’s account. (RELATED: Israeli General Was Not Killed in Hezbollah Drone Strike)

Furthermore, the social media user who posted the video confirmed he had created the video in an email to Check Your Fact.

“The video was created digitally, as stated in the description. Many people take these videos and repost them across different social media platforms without also sharing that they are created digitally, or even give credit to my channel,” he said.

“The video was created digitally, as stated in the description. Many people take these videos and repost them across different social media platforms without also sharing that they are created digitally, or even give credit to my channel,” he added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) field office in Newark, New Jersey has reports of drone sightings in the state going back to Dec. 3, according to CNN. The FBI and other law enforcement officials are still investigating whether the sightings are actually drones and where they are coming from, the outlet reported.