President-elect Trump, Gov. Youngkin discuss drone response, California wildfires at Mar-a-Lago dinner

Ivy Lyons | ilyons@wtop.com
January 12, 2025, 9:42 AM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin made his way from a funeral in D.C. honoring the life of former President Jimmy Carter to Palm Beach, Florida, where GOP leaders huddled with President-elect Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 20.

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Sitting to Trump’s right during the dinner at Mar-a-Lago, the group {of Republican governors} fielded questions from reporters on reports of drones flying around parts of Virginia and New Jersey, among other states.

“I’m going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration because I think it’s ridiculous that they’re not telling you about what’s going on with the drones,” Trump said. “And it’s not only with me. Glenn was telling me today that in Virginia they have drones all over the place too and nobody’s reporting it. I don’t know why they’re not.”

Reports of drones in the D.C. metro area spiked in mid-November and continued through the beginning of January. … Youngkin said these sightings were especially concerning in his state, which is home to the largest naval base in the world — Marine Corps Base Quantico — and the state’s national security infrastructure.

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Ivy Lyons
Ivy Lyons is a digital journalist for WTOP.com. Since 2018, they have worked on Capitol Hill, at NBC News in Washington, and with WJLA in Washington.
ilyons@wtop.com
@IvyALyons