Former President Donald Trump has refuted claims that Chinese balloons flew over U.S. airspace during his presidency, with at least one Trump administration official agreeing.
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe stated that no Chinese balloons flew over America during his tenure in under Trump from 2020 to 2021.
Trump denies accounts of Chinese balloons entering US under his watch https://t.co/7rPVZqIe8i
— THATISABSURDITY.COM (@AuthorofAbsurd) February 6, 2023
"I can refute it. It didn't happen," Ratcliffe said on Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures, before adding that "the damage is incalculable."
He continued, "Every time something goes wrong in the Biden administration, there's one of two responses. They either find a way to blame the Trump administration, or they try and find a way to say the Trump administration did it too."
"I can refute it. Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper refuted it yesterday. Former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo has refuted it."
WATCH: Former DNI John Ratcliffe debunks the claim that Chinese spy balloons occupied airspace during the Trump administration. pic.twitter.com/G3P9MDGqvD
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) February 5, 2023
"The Pentagon and other U.S. officials say it was a Chinese spy balloon — about the size of three school buses — that moved east over America at an altitude of about 60,000 feet (18,600 meters). The U.S. says it was being used for surveillance and intelligence collection, but officials have provided few details," the Associated Press reported.
"U.S. defense and military officials said Saturday that the balloon entered the U.S. air defense zone north of the Aleutian Islands on Jan. 28 and moved over land across Alaska and into Canadian airspace in the Northwest Territories on Jan. 30. The next day it crossed back into U.S. territory over northern Idaho. U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic," it added.
What in the world is that thing? https://t.co/dep8kFd8sB
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 4, 2023
The U.S. military shot down the balloon, but not until it was over the Atlantic Ocean after passing through South Carolina.
The device had traveled across the entire continental U.S. by that time. Many have argued that the Biden administration displayed great weakness by not responding earlier.
Military personnel have since sought to track down the remains for evaluation. Much remains a mystery about the balloon, but it's clear that President Joe Biden was not too worried about it.
Trump is using the incident to argue that Biden's approach to China and national defense are weak, ramping up his own strong rhetoric as he campaigns to make America great.
Many Americans are concerned about what the future holds concerning China as the communist nation seems to advance its plans against the U.S. and the West.
