NBC has confirmed the Chinese spy balloon shot down in early February was gathering information despite the Biden Administration's downplaying of the threat. Several Florida Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio and Representatives Mike Waltz, Ver Buchanan, and Greg Steube excoriated Biden on Twitter.
Sen. Rubio appeared on Fox, calling the balloon's flight "a test on America to collect data and intelligence."
"The Chinese spy balloon was a test on America to collect data and intelligence," Rubio stated.
The Chinese spy balloon was a test on America to collect data and intelligence. pic.twitter.com/w92AYWamuf
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) April 3, 2023
Though he did not share any information from the classified meeting held about the balloon, Sen. Rubio also said that it was "common sense" the balloon had been for spying.
Additionally, he reiterates that the balloon was "a test to see whether they can penetrate our airspace."
"I can tell you what common sense already tells all of us. And that is, you don't spend all this money and do something as daring as that. These spy balloons, I don't know what people thought these things were. This is not for some aerial America episode of the Smithsonian, taking pictures of the heartland. There's a reason why these things fly. They fly over the country to collect signals, intelligence, part of it is a test to see whether they can penetrate our airspace. Part of it, frankly, is collecting intelligence in real-time. Video, signals intelligence, still pictures fed back in real-time, and so forth. That's what this was," said Rubio.
Rep. Waltz bluntly stated "Next time a Chinese spy balloon enters U.S. airspace - shoot it down."
"Next time a Chinese spy balloon enters U.S. airspace - shoot it down. The balloon "was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to block it from doing so," added Waltz, quoting NBC's article.
Next time a Chinese spy balloon enters U.S. airspace - shoot it down.
The balloon "was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to block it from doing so.” https://t.co/V34iZp6cjL
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) April 3, 2023
Rep. Buchanan sarcastically asked if the balloon gathering intelligence was "the least surprising news of the day," reiterating that it was "common sense" as Rubio did.
"Least surprising news of the day? Despite President Biden and his administration continuously downplaying the threat posed by the Chinese spy balloon, reports now confirm what common sense told us from the beginning."
Least surprising news of the day?
Despite President Biden and his administration continuously downplaying the threat posed by the Chinese spy balloon, reports now confirm what common sense told us from the beginning.https://t.co/McGgr8uiDw
— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) April 3, 2023
Finally, Rep. Steube displayed similar sarcasm directed at President Biden, asking if "anyone (besides Joe Biden) actually believe China’s story of an innocent, runaway weather balloon?"
"Of course the spy balloon was gathering sensitive intelligence as Joe Biden allowed it to traverse the entire continental US. Did anyone (besides Joe Biden) actually believe China’s story of an innocent, runaway weather balloon?"
Of course the spy balloon was gathering sensitive intelligence as Joe Biden allowed it to traverse the entire continental US.
Did anyone (besides Joe Biden) actually believe China’s story of an innocent, runaway weather balloon? pic.twitter.com/tgwN0SUdVd
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) April 3, 2023
