Former President Barack Obama moved quickly to shut down speculation over the weekend after a lighthearted podcast exchange about extraterrestrial life exploded online, prompting him to issue a detailed clarification on Instagram.
In a rapid-fire “speed round” during an interview released on The Brian Tyler Cohen Show, the host asked Obama point-blank: “Are aliens real?”
“They’re real,” Obama replied with a smile, before adding, “but I haven’t seen them. And 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.”
The clip spread like wildfire across social media, with users speculating everything from government cover-ups to Obama dropping a subtle truth bomb. Conspiracy theorists and meme creators had a field day, while mainstream outlets quickly picked up the story.
By Sunday evening, Obama himself stepped in to set the record straight. He reposted the original clip to his Instagram account alongside a clear, concise statement:
