Kirby Confirms Alaska Shootdown Mid-Briefing: 'The Size of a Small Car'; Who Owns It? 'I Have No Idea' (February 10, 2023)

One week after a Chinese spy balloon drifted across the entire country, the White House announced it had shot down something else. “But really briefly, can you speak to rumors that there is another Chinese balloon above Alaska or any other parts of U.S. territory that the U.S. shot down?” a reporter asked National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Feb. 10, 2023 [1].

“So, I can confirm that the Department of Defense was tracking a high-altitude object over Alaska airspace in the last 24 hours. Alt- — the object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight,” Kirby said, according to the official White House transcript [1].

“Out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of the Pentagon, President Biden ordered the military to down the object,” he said. “Fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command took down the object within the last hour.” [1]

The video above shows the Feb. 10, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript and Biden’s remarks six days later [1][2].

”The President Ordered It”

A reporter Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Jacqui went straight to the first balloon. “John, so the Pentagon ordered this new object be taken down over Alaska —” the reporter began. “The President ordered it,” Kirby cut in [1].

“The President ordered it. So, is it a fair takeaway then that the Pentagon regrets not taking down the first balloon before it crossed the entire U.S.?” the reporter asked [1].

“Well, I’m not going to speak for the Pentagon. I can tell you that the President doesn’t regret the way that we handled the first balloon,” Kirby said [1].

Another reporter asked whether there was a new rule. “And lastly, is it now the policy of the United States that if unidentified aircraft are over U.S. territory that it is likely the President will choose to shoot it down?” Kirby answered: “The President will always act in the best interests of our national security and in the safety and security of the American people.” [1]

“The Size of a Small Car”

Kirby said the two were different. “First of all, apples and oranges here, in terms of size. As I said, this was the size of a small car,” he said. “We knew for a fact that the PRC balloon that we shot down last week was, in fact, a surveillance asset and capable of surveillance over sensitive military sites and that it had self-propulsion and maneuver capabilities. There’s no indication that this one did.” [1]

He also explained why the Chinese balloon was allowed to fly on. “And, you know, we did — we were able to collect some information from it while it was in flight. That was another reason why we let it traverse over land the way it did,” Kirby said [1].

He added that lawmakers had been told about the Chinese program months earlier. “And I would remind you that we — we briefed Congress in a classified setting back in August about this,” Kirby said [1].

”I Have No Idea”

Reporters wanted to know whose object it was. “Based on your broad and deep experience, who do you think might own or have flown this thing in the air?” one asked. “I have no idea,” Kirby said [1].

“Has anyone from the administration reached out to the Chinese to see whether they will claim this new object?” another asked. “I know of no outreach this afternoon to the Chinese government about this,” Kirby said [1].

Then he slipped. “We haven’t ruled anything in or out. We — and that’s why we’re calling this thing an ‘object,’” Kirby said. “But you just — Kirby, you just called it a balloon,” a reporter said. “You guys have me with balloon on the brain right now. (Laughter.)” he answered [1].

”Now for the Boring Part of the Briefing”

After Kirby left, Jean-Pierre turned to the schedule. “Okay. Now for the boring part of the briefing. (Laughter.) We just have a few minutes, guys, so we don’t have a lot of time. So let me just go over the week ahead,” she said [1].

The briefing had started at 2:14 p.m. and ended at 3:15 p.m. “Okay, I’ll see you guys on Monday. Thank you, everybody,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”Boxes in a Boston Office”

Late in the briefing, a reporter Jean-Pierre called Steve broke news about Biden’s documents. “While this briefing has been underway, the National Archives has released some of the communications between the President’s personal attorneys and the agency,” the reporter said. “It says, ‘Pat…’ — this is to Pat Moore, who’s the President’s personal lawyer — ‘Pat, we would like to pick up the boxes that are in your Boston office and move them to the JFK Library.’ Any explanation as to what boxes were doing in a Boston office and how this relates to this?” [1]

“I am learning about this as you are — as you were asking the question. So, I’m certainly not going to speak to it from here,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

Minutes earlier, another reporter asked about two bills. “The House passed, on a bipartisan basis, overturning D.C.’s new criminal code and also a law that would allow non-citizens to vote. Is that something that the President would sign into law? Or would he veto it?” Jean-Pierre answered: “This is the first time I’m hearing about it.” [1] For how that turned out, see HYGO News’ page on the D.C. crime bill.

”Cutting, for Instance, Defense Spending?”

A reporter Jean-Pierre called Andrea asked about Biden’s budget math. “Karine, on the President’s meeting today with the governors. He said during this meeting that Republicans are trying to close off the possibility of cutting defense spending and that that leaves only a very few options,” the reporter said. “And does he rule out the possibility of cutting, for instance, defense spending?” [1]

“I’m not going to get ahead of what the President is going to actually — the details or the specifics in his budget,” Jean-Pierre said. She pointed to his record instead: “This is a President — for the first two years, he was able to cut the deficit by $1.7 trillion. He takes his fiscal responsibility very seriously.” [1]

By the Numbers

40,000 feet: the altitude of the Alaska object, per Kirby [1].
65,000+ feet: the altitude of the Chinese balloon shot down the Saturday before [1].
Under 1 hour: how recently the object had been shot down when Kirby spoke [1].
3: objects Biden said he ordered taken down after the Chinese balloon [2].
August: when Kirby said Congress was briefed on the Chinese balloon program [1].

What Happened Next

Two more were shot down. By Feb. 16, Biden had ordered three objects taken down. “We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were,” he said. “The intelligence community’s current assessment is that these three objects were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation, or research institutions studying weather or conducting other scientific research.” [2]

Reporters shouted as he left. “Did you overreact?” one asked [2].

For Jean-Pierre handing the objects briefing to Kirby three days later, see HYGO News’ page on Feb. 13, 2023. For the White House on when it learned of Chinese balloons, see the page on Feb. 6, 2023.