Washington: Former U.S. President Barack Obama has clarified recent comments made during a podcast interview regarding the possibility of Earth being visited by extraterrestrial beings. He emphasized that while the existence of extraterrestrial life is statistically plausible, the likelihood of such life visiting Earth is low.
According to Thai News Agency, the interview with American podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen, which was released on Saturday, featured Obama asserting that extraterrestrial life forms exist, though he has never witnessed them personally. He also dismissed the notion that such beings are being kept in secret locations like Area 51 or other underground facilities, barring the existence of a vast conspiracy hidden from the U.S. president.
Obama later clarified that his remarks were made in the context of a rapid-fire question segment. He elaborated that, despite the vastness of the universe suggesting a high probability of life elsewhere, he found no evidence during his presidency of any extraterrestrial contact with Earth. The immense distances between solar systems make the probability of such encounters too remote to be considered realistic.
The topic gained traction after Cohen's initial question about the existence of aliens, leading to widespread media coverage and some criticism. Obama responded to the buzz by posting a clarification on his Instagram account last Sunday, explaining that his initial comments were meant to align with the humorous tone of the podcast. He reiterated that there is no evidence supporting claims of extraterrestrial contact.
During his presidency from 2009 to 2017, Obama had previously spoken about unidentified flying objects (UFOs). In a 2021 interview with James Corden, he mentioned inquiring about the existence of a secret lab housing extraterrestrial samples upon taking office. The investigation revealed no such program, although there were documented instances of celestial phenomena that lacked scientific explanation at the time.