What do Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Trump have in common?

Judging by their personalities and actions, one might say not much. However, they share an interest in opening archives on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) and possible extraterrestrial life to the public.

The topic of UAPs is no longer confined to the fringes of the internet, limited to fan forums and pop culture. Over the past decade, it has also entered the mainstream of American political discourse: appearing in presidential television interviews, congressional debates, and even in official government proceedings for the release of documents or the removal of classification. As a result, the question of releasing the UAP archives has become of interest to the broader public: not because we already have a definitive answer, but because the topic has shifted from the realm of ridicule to that of institutional seriousness. 

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton

Bill Clinton publicly stated after his presidential term ended that during his tenure, he had ordered an investigation into documents and the sites of Roswell and Area 51, where UFO wreckage and alien bodies were allegedly found. 1 He added that while advanced technology is indeed being developed there, no evidence of Extraterrestrials has been found, though this does not mean we are alone in the universe. The archives of the Clinton and Ford Presidential Libraries also contain numerous materials related to information on UFOs. 2

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that she would like to »dig into those files« and release as much material as possible, provided it did not jeopardise national security. Her interest was likely significantly influenced by the circle around John Podesta, her campaign manager and a long-time advocate for greater openness regarding government archives on UAPs. 3

Barack Obama

Barack Obama has spoken about this topic several times in recent years, though quite cautiously. In 2021, he said that there are »footage and records of objects in the sky« that they do not know exactly what they are, and that their movements could not be easily explained. This is, after all, a significant statement from a former U.S. president.

In February 2026, Obama sparked a new wave of media coverage on a podcast by stating that »aliens are real«, but he quickly added that he was referring to the high probability of life in various parts of the universe, not to evidence that he had observed confirmed contact with an extraterrestrial civilisation during his presidency. 4 5

Donald Trump

During Trump’s first administration, the topic gained institutional momentum. In late 2020, as part of the legislative process, a deadline was set for both political parties to prepare a public report on UFOs, leading to the first widely publicised official report by the U.S. intelligence community on these phenomena. This was a significant moment, as the issue became a formal government obligation. Although the AARO, which currently leads U.S. government efforts to study UFOs, did not cite evidence of extraterrestrial beings or technology in its 2024 report, it clearly stated that certain phenomena remain unexplained. 6
In February 2026, following Obama’s interviews, Trump again publicly ordered the initiation of a process to identify and release government documents related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life. 7

Spielberg and Disclosure Day

Steven Spielberg, director of popular movies on this topic such as E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, also returned to the theme of extraterrestrial life.

In March 2026, he publicly stated that he »strongly suspects« we are not alone, and emphasised that he finds it unlikely that human civilisation is the only intelligent civilisation in the universe. He believes that the disclosure of not only evidence but also potential contacts with extraterrestrial civilisations, which may have been occurring for decades, will bring about harmless upheavals in the various systems of our civilizational beliefs 8.

His new movie, Disclosure Day, hits theatres on June 12, 2026. The movie is an original story by Spielberg, with a screenplay by David Koepp, and features a star-studded cast including Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colin Firth. Official promotional materials present the movie as a story about the revelation of the truth that we may not be alone.

Trailer for Spielberg’s movie Disclosure Day, source: IMDB

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Sources:

1. CBS News: Bill Clinton on aliens visiting Earth: “Wouldn’t be surprised” (2014): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-clinton-on-aliens-visiting-earth-wouldnt-be-surprised/.
2. National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps/presidential-libraries#william-clinton
3. CBS News Miami: Hillary Clinton Talks UFOs, Marijuana With Jimmy Kimmel (2016): https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/hillary-clinton-talks-ufos-marijuana-with-jimmy-kimmel/.
4. CBS News: Obama: Odds are aliens are real but I saw no evidence of contact while president (February 16, 2026): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-aliens-odds-real-no-evidence-contact-president/.
5. BBC: Obama clarifies views on aliens after saying ‘they’re real’ on podcast (February 16, 2026): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2g4qglzz8o.
6. AARO: Official report on U.S. government activities regarding UFOs (February 2024): https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/08/2003409233/-1/-1/0/DOPSR-2024-0263-AARO-HISTORICAL-RECORD-REPORT-VOLUME-1-2024.PDF.
7. AP: Trump says he doesn’t know if aliens are real but directs government to release files on UFOs (February 20, 2026): https://apnews.com/article/trump-extraterrestrials-government-records-aliens-bafe648c8e8dfc7de1a1e90db8a1dfd0.
8. Los Angeles Times: ‘We are not alone’: Steven Spielberg shares his true feelings about aliens and UFOs at SXSW (March 13, 2026): https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-03-13/sxsw-2026-aliens-ufos-steven-spielberg-we-are-not-alone-interview