President Donald Trump is not in a hurry to talk about what might have happened at Roswell, New Mexico — the top secret government site that has been the subject of public fascination since 1947 when ufologists say an extraterrestrial craft crashed in the high plains town.
Of course, the government says that the 1947 crash was simply a weather balloon. But that clarification has not done much to curb the rumors about Roswell.
Asked by his son, Donald Trump Jr., if he “will let us know if there’s aliens” and asked, “Will you ever open us Roswell and let us know what’s really going on there?”
Trump offered a sly grin and responded, “It sounds like a cute question, but it’s actually — there are millions and millions of people that want to go there, that want to see it.”
He continued, “I won’t talk to you about what I know about it, because it’s very interesting. But Roswell’s a very interesting place with a lot of people that would like to know what’s going on.”
When his son asked if he might declassify the site, Trump responded, “Well, I’ll have to think about that one.”
Donald Trump Jr.: "Will you let us know if there's aliens? … Will you ever open up Roswell?"
— The Hill (@thehill) June 19, 2020
President Trump: "So many people ask me that question." pic.twitter.com/9PpHrjfVub
Most presidents have played a smoke-and-mirrors game when asked about extraterrestrials, so Trump’s remarks are hardly unique. In 2015, President Barack Obama was asked by Jimmy Kimmel about the existence of UFOs and responded, “I can’t reveal anything.”
And like most presidents, Trump has rarely commented on UFO files. In April, when the Pentagon officially released videos (that had previously circulated) of unidentified flying objects, Trump said simply, “That’s a hell of a video,” and added, “I wonder if it’s real?”
But even the Pentagon’s explanation of those videos added to the speculation. When the videos were released, a Defense Department spokeswoman said, “The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as ‘unidentified.'”
