‘SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!’: Trump Calls for Chinese Spy Balloon to Be Shot Down
Kristina Wong
Former President Donald Trump is calling for the Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States to be shot down.
“SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning, after the Pentagon confirmed Thursday evening that a Chinese spy balloon had been floating over the U.S. for several days.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Thursday:
The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic, and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”