I wouldn't be surprised if this is some local drone hobbyist meetup.

But if its actually "size of cars" then it has to be a private military contractor testing new tech. As to why in a populated area: maybe they want to test the ability to detect human beings, you know, that's quite useful on a battlefield. Telling people "it's fine, its just a military contractor testing new drones for war" would probably get people to protest, as most people don't like their tax dollars spend on new killing machines, so the government is just not saying anything about it.

I've been diving into this for a bit. I fly myself I have a home built dead at and a DJI.

There appear to be multiple things at play here.

First, I'd like to point out this happened in New Jersey last year from November until December 23rd. If you search news articles you can find it.

Next, people are taking videos of helicopters and fixed wing jet liners in the distance and freaking out. I strongly suspect this is most of the distant out-of-state stuff.

Next, pretty much everything in videos is running with their navigation lights on. Whoever's doing it either wants to be seen or doesn't want to disobey FAA rules. (Not aliens, not Iran, not China)

Next, a woman took a picture over Jersey City a few days ago where the clouds were all red green blue in a massive way. This was most certainly a hired swarm.

Next, and most of the videos were you're seeing small quadcopter style craft, They all have that hazy yellowish look to them. I'm betting their part of the RGB swarm.

Next, people are flip-flopping in the reports between the drones being the size of a car and the drones being the size of a regular recreational drone, well it's harder to see the size of things in the dark, porque no los dos.

Next, in one of the videos the drone went overhead and there was a clear turbine wine.

Next, there have been sightings over secure installations and over Trump's own golf course. If it's not us doing it it would be a much bigger deal.

Next they're telling us that there's no harm or ill intent. That's not a lip service kind of thing, If they didn't know they'd be shooting them out of the sky. They know what they are.

My primary suspicion is that the government/a musk related corporation is testing a new vertical takeoff autonomous vehicle. Maybe they're running tests before the inauguration in case there's insurgency, maybe they're just doing it because they're excited to play with new contracts and new toys. I think someone is hiring a pyrotechnic company to spread out a drone swarm to run interference. They're not technically doing it in areas where they're going to get in trouble or where it's against FAA rules but they're close enough to cause panic. And FAA reactions

My secondary suspicion would be that they're going to use this to put us into martial law in January.