Obama Addresses Long-Running Alien Theories

Are aliens real? It’s a question that has fueled speculation for decades, blending science fiction, conspiracy theories and congressional hearings into one enduring debate.

During a Feb. 14 podcast interview, former President Barack Obama was asked directly whether aliens exist. His answer reignited public curiosity. While saying aliens are real, Obama made clear he has never personally seen them and dismissed one of the most persistent conspiracies in American culture — that extraterrestrials are being held at Area 51, the highly classified U.S. Air Force facility in Nevada.

The topic arrives amid renewed national interest in Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs — commonly referred to as UFOs.

Recent congressional hearings have brought greater attention to sightings and government investigations, with nearly half of Americans believing the U.S. government is concealing information about UFOs.

Still, U.S. defense officials maintain that most reported sightings can be explained as planes, drones, balloons or weather-related events.

Obama’s remarks add a light moment to a subject that continues to sit at the intersection of public skepticism, scientific inquiry and political transparency.