02.13.23

Sullivan Demands Transparency from Administration on Downed Unidentified Aerial Objects

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), in an interview this morning with Brian Kilmeade on “Fox & Friends,” called for greater transparency for the American people from President Joe Biden and senior Biden administration officials regarding the nature of the multiple unidentified aerial objects shot down over North America in recent days.

“I think the Biden administration needs to provide more transparency to the American public,” Sen. Sullivan said. “Our military intel agencies, they're normally secretive, but we live in a democracy. If you don't start providing information, people can wildly speculate, and we don't want that. What we need right now is more information on all of these kinds of incidents so the American people have full information. I think that's going to be really important in the next few days.”

Sen. Sullivan also said that we should assume the unidentified objects are adversarial aircraft probing for weaknesses in U.S. defense capabilities until that scenario can be ruled out. 

“The one that was shot down over Alaska is different from the one that was shot down over Canada, according to the briefings that I've been given,” Sen. Sullivan said. “With regard to China, I think we need to assume [that these objects are] our adversary’s surveillance, assume that they're objects that are probing for weakness in our defenses. And, if they're more benign when we find that out later, okay. But at least we're doing the number one thing that we're supposed to be doing, [which] is protecting our nation.”

Below is a transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s interview:

KILMEADE: Here to discuss this is Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, with a rich military background. Senator, I know the American public—I'm walking around the stadium, I'm out in front of the Super Bowl—everyone's asking me about what's going on. I'm watching the Sunday shows. Lawmakers don't know what's going on. Have you been briefed?

SULLIVAN: Yeah, Brian, I've been briefed throughout the weekend by the senior military officials—not by Biden Administration officials—from Northern Command. I was on the show just Friday. Boy, what an unprecedented weekend. My advice continually for now has been two things: Continue to protect the airspace. That's your job, Northern Command. Shoot down things that you don't know what they are, if they're a threat. But the real key right now, in my view, is surge operations to recover these objects that we've shot down so we can understand the nature of the threat. They are doing that, but we need to get our hands on these things to figure out what they are and [if] they pose a threat.

KILMEADE: Senator, it looks like the last couple [are] not really in command of their navigation, unlike the last one that we blew up. We're trying to fish it out of the South Carolina waters off of Myrtle Beach. So, there could be a difference. We also see that China might have picked up some type of object over their land. Are we answering them offensively, doing what they're doing to us, perhaps?

SULLIVAN: As you might remember on Friday on Fox and Friends, I said the number one thing we need to do is reestablish deterrence, particularly as it relates to China. I would be very skeptical of what the Chinese are saying right now. Remember, they're still saying that the one shot down off the coast of South Carolina was a weather balloon. That's actually not true. It wasn't a weather balloon. It was a spy balloon. And you're right. These ones that are being shot down, they are different in nature. The one that was shot down over Alaska is different from the one that was shot down over Canada, according to the briefings that I've been given. With regard to China, I think we need to assume the worst right now on what these balloons might be—assume that they're our adversary's surveillance, assume that they're objects that are probing for weakness in our defenses. And if we're wrong, okay, then we can be wrong on that. But right now, I think it's smart to assume the worst. And, if they're more benign when we find that out later, okay. But at least we're doing the number one thing that we're supposed to be doing, [which] is protecting our nation. 

KILMEADE: Senator, why are we picking this stuff up now? Why are we seeing these objects in the sky? Have we changed the sensitivity? Have we changed our focus or are there more things in the sky? Have you gotten an answer on that?

SULLIVAN: Right now, they're saying that we're changing the focus. I'm not so sure that's true. What I've been saying to the Biden administration—this goes beyond our military, who I think are, by the way, doing a great job. As you know, Brian, these missions, our guys in Alaska are doing exceptional work. They're working around the clock. These are not easy missions. But with regard to why and what we're seeing, this is where I think the Biden administration needs to provide more transparency to the American public. Our military intel agencies, they're normally secretive, but we live in a democracy. If you don't start providing information, people can wildly speculate, and we don't want that. What we need right now is more information on all of these kinds of incidents so the American people have full information. I think that's going to be really important in the next few days.

KILMEADE: Senator, it's just so obvious. If you say what you know and you can honestly say, this is what we don't know yet, we appreciate that. When you refuse to talk to us, and the symbolism of the President running by as reporters ask one question from 50 yards away, while the Canadian Prime Minister is giving his press conference. I think we deserve better, and I think you agree with me. Senator Sullivan, thanks so much.  

SULLIVAN: Brian, I agree 100 percent, and I'm going to keep pressing for that.

KILMEADE: Thank you.

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