After Sparking UFO Frenzy, Obama Clarifies Viral 'Alien Are Real' Remark: 'Saw No Evidence...'

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 19:12 IST

Obama clarified he saw no evidence of aliens making contact during his presidency, despite Area 51 conspiracy theories and viral podcast comments with Brian Tyler Cohen.

Former US President Barack Obama has clarified his recent comments on aliens, saying he saw no evidence that extraterrestrials “have made contact with us," after his remarks went viral on social media.

During a podcast with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama was asked, “Are aliens real?" He replied, “They’re real. But I haven’t seen them. And, they’re not being kept in Area 51."

He also dismissed popular myths about the Nevada military base, adding: “There’s no underground facility, unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States."

The podcast, released over the weekend, sparked widespread attention online, with many users reacting to the former president’s brief affirmation.

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On Sunday, Obama posted a clarification on Instagram to explain his comments in more detail. “I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since it’s gotten attention let me clarify."

The former US president further added, “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!"

Area 51, a top-secret Cold War test site in the Nevada desert, has long been the subject of conspiracy theories about UFOs and extraterrestrials. In 2013, the CIA officially acknowledged the site’s existence, though not any alleged alien activity.

The base spans 8,000 square miles (20,700 square kilometres) and has been used for testing advanced aircraft, including the U-2 spy plane in the 1950s and the B-2 stealth bomber.

(With inputs from AP)

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