As Trump Orders UFO Data Released, a Question Hangs: If Aliens Exist, What Would They Think of Us?

Experts ponder how extraterrestrial life might view humanity's conflicts and challenges.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:37pm

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As former President Trump orders the release of government files on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), also known as UFOs, experts are pondering what alien life might think of humanity if it exists. Some theorize that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations would be disappointed by Earth's conflicts and lack of progress, while others believe any true alien encounter could not be kept secret. The debate on whether aliens are real has escalated in recent years, with a majority of Americans believing intelligent life exists on other planets.

Why it matters

The question of what aliens would think of us is a fascinating one, as it forces us to reflect on our own behavior and priorities as a species. If intelligent life from another planet were to observe us, would they see a civilization worth engaging with, or one mired in petty conflicts and environmental destruction? This line of inquiry could provide valuable perspective on humanity's place in the universe and inspire us to strive for a more harmonious and sustainable future.

The details

The debate around UFOs and UAP has intensified in recent years, with the Pentagon releasing hundreds of reports in 2024 that gave no indication the objects were of extraterrestrial origin. However, some experts like retired Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet believe the evidence clearly shows there are UAP in our airspace and oceans, controlled by a 'nonhuman intelligence.' Gallaudet and others argue the government should be more transparent and share data with scientists to better understand these phenomena.

  • In February 2023, former President Barack Obama acknowledged that aliens are 'real' but said he hasn't seen them and they're not being kept at Area 51.
  • In 2024, the Pentagon released hundreds of reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena.
  • On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, NASA is launching its Artemis II mission to send astronauts on a fly-around of the moon.

The players

Avi Loeb

A theoretical physicist and director of the Institute for Theory & Computation at Harvard University, as well as head of the university's Galileo Project for the Systematic Scientific Search for Evidence of Extraterrestrial Technological Artifacts.

Bill Diamond

The president and chief executive of the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, which seeks to explore, search and understand the nature of life and intelligence in the universe.

Debbie Dmytro

A 56-year-old medical professional from Royal Oak, Michigan, who has reported seeing unexplained lights and objects in the sky on multiple occasions.

Timothy Gallaudet

A retired Rear Admiral who previously worked as acting administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and participated in a 2024 congressional hearing on UAP disclosure.

Edwin Bergin

A University of Michigan Astronomy Professor who teaches about the search for life elsewhere in the universe.

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What they’re saying

“If I were looking at Earth from a distance, I would be pretty disappointed. Most of our investing is dealing with conflicts to prevent other people from killing us or us killing others. Look at the Ukraine war over a little bit of territory. That is not a sign of intelligence.”

— Avi Loeb, Theoretical Physicist

“Absolutely, there are such things as UAPs and UFOs. People observe things in the sky that they can't immediately identify or recognize as either human engineering such as planes or drones or helicopters, or animals, such as birds, and therefore they don't know what they are.”

— Bill Diamond, President and CEO, SETI Institute

“The nonhuman intelligence that operates them or controls them are absolutely real. We've recovered crashed craft. We don't know if they're extraterrestrial in origin.”

— Timothy Gallaudet, Retired Rear Admiral

“They might be laughing at us. They might be watching us ... to make sure we will not become predators, that we will not become dangerous to them.”

— Avi Loeb, Theoretical Physicist

“When has ignorance ever been a good national strategy? Whether it be scary, harmful or not, or a mix, I think seeking the truth is in our best interest.”

— Timothy Gallaudet, Retired Rear Admiral

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing fascination and speculation around the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and the implications it could have for how humanity views itself and its place in the universe. While the existence of aliens remains unproven, the debate raises important questions about our priorities, conflicts, and environmental stewardship as a species - questions that could inspire us to strive for a more harmonious and sustainable future.