No evidence aliens have made contact, says Obama after podcast comments cause frenzy

After Barack Obama stated on a podcast that "aliens are real," media outlets reported his apparent confirmation of extraterrestrial life. Obama then clarified his comments in an Instagram post, stating that while the universe's vastness makes alien life statistically probable, he saw no evidence during his presidency that aliens have contacted Earth. He also dismissed the conspiracy theory that aliens are hidden at Area 51. Obama explained that his initial comment was intended to be lighthearted, but the subsequent attention prompted him to clarify his position. The Area 51 conspiracy theory gained traction in 2019, leading to a planned "storming" of the site that ultimately became a music festival. Declassified documents revealed Area 51 was used for testing government aerial projects, which contributed to increased UFO sightings.

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