A hot air balloon became the main topic of conversation on social media on Thursday evening, sending many Americans into a near-panic.
The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that they have been tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon for the past few days. “We are confident that this high-altitude surveillance balloon belongs to the [People’s Republic of China],” senior defense official Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said. “Instances of this activity have been observed over the past several years, including prior to this administration.” The balloon has reportedly been tracked across the northern continental United States for at least 48 hours.
According to CNN, President Joe Biden has taken the advice of his security advisers and has not ordered the United States military to shoot the balloon down.
The vast majority of Americans have shown concern over this news, but that hasn't stopped them from introducing conservative versus liberal politics into the spy balloon discussion.
Many Conservative Users Call For Action
Supporters of former president Donald Trump, like Twitter user saras76, have come out in droves to proclaim that the U.S. wouldn't find themselves with a Chinese spy balloon hovering over the country if Trump hadn't lost the 2020 election:
There would be no Chinese spy balloon hovering over us if Trump were president
— Sararose(@saras76) February 3, 2023
Musician and noted Trump supporter John Rich took to the social media platform, offering to shoot down the spy balloon himself if it travels too close to his home of Tennessee:
PLEASE let the Chinese spy balloon fly over Tennessee! One well placed 7mm Mag round, and we'll be hanging that sucker on the living room wall:)
— John Rich(@johnrich) February 3, 2023
According to this user, the mere fact that an alleged Chinese spy balloon is over U.S. airspace “kinda sounds like we're screwed.”
So, just to be clear, we didn’t stop a Chinese spy balloon? Over Montana? Kinda sounds like we’re screwed.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 3, 2023
Democrats Have All the Balloon Jokes We Need
Of course, many users quickly took to making light of the situation. User djrothkopf posted a comedic message comparing the balloon to current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy:
Full of hot air and dangerous, the Chinese spy balloon has just been offered a House intel committee seat by Kevin McCarthy.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) February 3, 2023
This user was shocked that “Chinese spy balloon” wasn't another theory being floated by Marjorie Taylor Greene, who once coined the phrase “Jewish space lasers.”
Just admit that when you first saw “Chinese spy balloon” trending you immediately thought “what the hell did Marjorie Taylor Greene come up with now?”
— Kyla in the Burgh(@KylaInTheBurgh) February 2, 2023
Even Non-Partisan Users Have Strong Opinions
Other users kept out of the political discussion, instead choosing to deal with the Chinese spy balloon in a more practical manner. User pierregotro wonders what would happen to China if the tables were turned and theorizes that “China is bullying” the United States with this latest development:
A Chinese spy balloon the size of three buses is flying over America soil and our government decides to stand down.
— Pierre Gotro (@pierregotro) February 3, 2023
Imagine what would happen if the US was to openly send a spy balloon to China or Russia.
China is bullying the US because they know they can get away with it.
This user thinks that everything is being blown out of proportion, since China already has spy satellites “that can read a stop sign from space.”
So many people freaking out over what is allegedly a Chinese spy balloon and I'm just sitting here laughing.
— Kremlin Sponsored Bot (@GiveEmHellHorns) February 3, 2023
China has spy satellites that can read a stop sign from space…But you think they need a balloon to spy on Montana…Ok well good luck with that.
Some users think that the U.S. shouldn't be worried about spy balloons when the real spy mechanism is a certain Chinese-owned social media app that has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years:
TikTok is the real Chinese Spy balloon
— ALX
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
source https://wealthofgeeks.com/america-panics-over-suspected-chinese-spy-balloon/
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