China, in his words · 2024 campaign · № 90
Demands the Chinese surveillance balloon be shot down
“SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!”
- Said
- , Post on Truth Social (@realDonaldTrump)
- Subject
- spy balloon
- Threat
- Military threat
- Topic
- Foreign policy
- Era
- 2024 campaign
What the record showed
The Pentagon said that day that downing the balloon over land would create a significant debris field that could hurt people on the ground. An F-22 shot it down off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4, 2023. A senior Pentagon official then said Chinese surveillance balloons had "transited the continental United States briefly at least three times during the prior administration." Trump wrote on Feb. 5 that this "NEVER" happened while he was president; a defense official said the earlier flights were discovered after his administration left office.