Did Trump's defense secretary KNOW Chinese spy balloons flew over US but 'decide not to tell him'?

A senior Republican on Monday said that the Pentagon may have been aware of Chinese balloons drifting across the country during Donald Trump's time in office, but could have kept the information from the White House because of the president's reputation for 'provocative' and 'aggressive' action.

The Biden administration has been under fire for taking days before deciding to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon.
But defense officials have since briefed reporters that similar balloons were spotted under the previous administration without any action being taken.

The result has been a string of Trump officials denying any knowledge of such incidents, saying they only came to light after they had left office.

Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, offered an explanation for the differing tales, saying that his office had been briefed on the details and that it had happened over Florida, Texas and elsewhere.