The question about life in the stars is one that continues to plague NASA, the government, and the general public at large. The realms of sci-fi haven't helped douse the fires of conspiracy theories, with everything from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to Close Encounters of the Third Kind popularizing the genre.
The question is, if mankind comes into contact with aliens, will they be friendly little dudes like the ones from Galaxy Quest, or are we going full War of the Worlds? There's been much debate about what will happen when we first make contact with aliens, as well as various theories about why it hasn't happened yet. Of course, some claim it's already happened, and it's being kept under wraps as a government secret tucked away in Area 51.
If there's anyone likely to know about the existence of aliens, it's the President of the United States. Donald Trump has previously set tongues wagging when he said: "I have met with people, serious people, that say there are some really strange things flying around out there."
Advert
Although he's since downplayed the idea that he believes in aliens when he told Joe Rogan he's always been a skeptic.
Now, another political powerhouse has stepped into the ring, as former President Barack Obama has spoken out after he appeared to suggest he's a believer himself.
A 2021 survey from the Pew Research Center claimed that nearly 65% of Americans think there's intelligent life on other planets, and now, we might be able to add Barack Obama to the list.
When asked directly by podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama candidly said: "They're real but I haven't seen them. They're not being kept in Area 51. There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States."
In the aftermath of this seemingly revelatory interview, Obama has walked back his claims and said that his comments were made in the 'spirit' of questioning. Posting on his official Instagram account, the former POTUS said: "I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since it's gotten attention let me clarify."
Just like recent buzz from scientists making their own assertions as to why we haven't found alien life yet, Obama clarified: "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!"
This wouldn't be Obama's first brush with the cosmos, telling James Corden back in 2021 that when he first came into office, he asked "where we're keeping the alien specimens and space ship."
Even though Obama has seemingly clarified what he meant with his alien chatter, we're sure the conspiracy nuts are going to have a field day with this one.