Obama Clarifies Alien Comments: 'I Saw No Evidence'

Former president says odds of alien life are good, but no evidence of contact during his presidency.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Former President Barack Obama took to Instagram on Sunday to clarify his recent comments about aliens, stating that while the odds of extraterrestrial life are statistically good given the vastness of the universe, he saw no evidence of aliens making contact during his time in the White House.

Why it matters

Obama's initial comments about aliens sparked significant public interest and speculation, leading the former president to provide further clarification on his stance. This highlights the continued public fascination with the possibility of alien life and the scrutiny that even former presidents face when discussing the topic.

The details

In a podcast interview published on Saturday, Obama had said that aliens are "real" but that he had not seen them and they were not being kept in secret government facilities like Area 51. However, in his Instagram post on Sunday, Obama reiterated that while the odds of life existing elsewhere in the universe are high, he saw no proof of extraterrestrial contact during his presidency.

  • On February 16, 2026, Obama posted his clarification on Instagram.
  • On February 15, 2026, Obama appeared on a podcast and made initial comments about aliens.

The players

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who served from 2009 to 2017.

Brian Tyler Cohen

A political commentator who interviewed Obama on his podcast.

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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 President of the United States (Instagram)

The takeaway

Obama's clarification on his alien comments highlights the continued public fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, even among former presidents. While Obama acknowledged the statistical likelihood of alien life, he reiterated that he saw no evidence of contact during his time in office, dispelling any lingering speculation about secret government knowledge or encounters with aliens.