Obama Clarifies Alien Comments: 'Saw No Evidence' of Contact

Former president says while odds of extraterrestrial life are high, he saw no proof of aliens during his time in office.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Former President Barack Obama has clarified comments he made last week about the existence of aliens, saying he was trying to 'stick with the spirit' of a speed round interview where he lightheartedly stated that aliens are 'real.' Obama said while the odds of extraterrestrial life are statistically high given the vastness of the universe, he saw no evidence during his presidency that aliens have made contact with Earth.

Why it matters

The existence of aliens and unidentified flying objects (UFOs) has long been a topic of fascination and debate among the public and scientific community. Obama's comments, even when clarified, have reignited discussion around the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the government's potential knowledge or handling of the issue.

The details

In an Instagram post, Obama said he was trying to 'stick with the spirit' of a speed round interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, where he jokingly stated that his first question as president was 'where are the aliens?' Obama clarified that while the odds of extraterrestrial life are statistically high, he saw no evidence during his presidency that aliens have made contact with Earth. He said there is no 'underground facility' or 'enormous conspiracy' hiding evidence of aliens.

  • On February 12, 2026, Obama made comments about aliens in a podcast interview.
  • On February 16, 2026, Obama clarified his comments about aliens in an Instagram post.

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 in a podcast where the alien comments were made.

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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 (Instagram)

The takeaway

Obama's clarification highlights the ongoing public fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, even among former U.S. presidents. While the odds of alien life may be high, concrete evidence of contact remains elusive, as acknowledged by both scientific studies and political leaders.