Obama Clarifies Aliens Are 'Real' Comment After Backlash

Former president insists he saw no evidence of extraterrestrial contact during his time in office.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Former U.S. President Barack Obama has clarified his recent comments about aliens being 'real,' stating that while he believes the odds of life existing elsewhere in the universe are high, he saw no evidence of extraterrestrial contact during his presidency. Obama acknowledged the increasing number of reported Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings, but said he did not encounter any proof of aliens visiting Earth while in office.

Why it matters

Obama's comments have sparked renewed public interest and debate around the possibility of alien life and the government's knowledge or handling of the issue. As a former president, his perspective carries significant weight, and his clarification aims to provide context and avoid fueling conspiracy theories.

The details

In a recent podcast interview, Obama said 'aliens are real' but that he had not seen them during his time as president. This sparked a flurry of online discussion and speculation. Obama has now issued a statement on Instagram clarifying his remarks, explaining that he was trying to keep his answers brief during the 'speed round' of questions, but wanted to provide more context. He reiterated his belief that the odds of life existing elsewhere in the universe are statistically high, but said he saw no evidence of extraterrestrial contact or a government coverup during his presidency.

  • In 2021, Obama told late night host James Corden that he asked about alien specimens and spaceships upon becoming president, but was told there was no evidence.
  • In 2023, the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report detailing an increase in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings.

The players

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who recently made comments about the existence of aliens that sparked public interest and debate.

Brian Tyler Cohen

An American podcast host who interviewed Obama and prompted his initial comments about aliens.

James Corden

A late night TV host who previously interviewed Obama about his inquiries into alien evidence upon becoming president.

U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

The U.S. government agency that released a 2023 report detailing an increase in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings.

Bill Nelson

The NASA Administrator who pledged the agency would not conceal the existence of aliens if discovered.

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What they’re saying

“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!”

— Barack Obama, Former U.S. President (Instagram)

“Once I became president, I asked 'Is there a lab somewhere where we're keeping the alien specimens and space ship?' They did a little bit of research and the answer was no.”

— Barack Obama, Former U.S. President (The Late Late Show with James Corden)

What’s next

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has pledged the agency will be transparent about any evidence of alien life that is discovered through its investigations into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).

The takeaway

Obama's clarification highlights the ongoing public fascination and debate around the possibility of alien life, while also underscoring the challenges of definitively proving or disproving extraterrestrial contact given the vastness of the universe and the limitations of current knowledge and evidence.