Obama Clarifies Alien Comments, Says No Evidence of Contact

Former president says odds of extraterrestrial life are high, but chances of visitation are low.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Former U.S. President Barack Obama said he did not see evidence that aliens 'have made contact with us,' after sending social media abuzz by saying aliens were real on a podcast over the weekend. Obama clarified his comments, stating that while the odds of extraterrestrial life are statistically high given the vastness of the universe, the chances of aliens actually visiting Earth are low, and he saw no evidence of such contact during his presidency.

Why it matters

Obama's initial comments about aliens sparked widespread speculation and debate on social media, with many people eager to hear the perspective of a former U.S. president on the topic of extraterrestrial life. His subsequent clarification helps provide some context and perspective on the issue, and underscores the continued public fascination with the possibility of alien visitation.

The details

During a podcast interview, Obama was asked if aliens are real, to which he responded 'They're real.' However, he later clarified that while the odds of extraterrestrial life existing are high given the vastness of the universe, the distances between solar systems make it unlikely that aliens have actually made contact with Earth. Obama stated that he saw no evidence of such contact during his presidency.

  • On February 12, 2026, Obama made comments about aliens being 'real' during a podcast interview.
  • On February 16, 2026, Obama released a statement on Instagram clarifying his previous comments.

The players

Barack Obama

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

Brian Tyler Cohen

The host of the podcast where Obama made his initial comments about aliens.

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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.”

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

The takeaway

Obama's clarification on his alien comments helps provide some much-needed perspective on the topic of extraterrestrial life, underscoring the statistical likelihood of its existence while also acknowledging the practical challenges of interstellar travel and contact. His statement serves as a reminder that even former presidents do not have definitive proof of alien visitation, despite the persistent public fascination with the topic.