A new poll has found that about half of Americans, 49 percent, think all Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sightings can be explained by human activity on Earth or natural phenomena.
That poll also found 37 percent believe at least some UFOs have been alien spacecraft visiting Earth from other planets or galaxies.
Another 13 percent do not have an opinion.
These findings come as the Department of War continues to release previously classified UFO files under a President Donald Trump executive order.
Latest findings
These latest findings come from a Gallup poll, taken July 1-19.
Other data points found in the poll include:
- Americans were also more inclined to associate UFOs with earthly than supernatural causes the two prior times Gallup measured this, although the alien-skeptical share was higher in 2019 (60%) than in 2021 (50%) and today.
- Meanwhile, rather than become increasingly convinced that some sightings have been alien spacecraft, the percentage of Americans who are unsure has grown, from 7% in 2019 to 13% in 2026.
The demographic subgroups showing the greatest skepticism about UFOs being alien spacecraft are men, young adults aged 18 to 29, college graduates, residents of the Midwestern and Western U.S., and Democrats.
Beyond general awareness
Also, the poll notes that many people are familiar with UFOs – but few have seen one.
More than four in five Americans, 83%, say they have heard or read about UFOs. That is similar to the 86% recorded in 2019 but below readings from earlier decades, including 94% in 1973 when the question was first asked.
Beyond general awareness, 17 percent of Americans say they have personally seen something they thought was a UFO. This is essentially unchanged from 16% in 2019 but higher than Gallup readings between 1973 and 1996, which ranged from 9% to 14%.
U.S. adults who say they have seen something they thought was a UFO are much more likely than those who have not to believe that some UFOs are alien spacecraft (61% vs. 33%, respectively).
Reports of UFO sightings are highest among men, middle-aged adults, those without a college degree, and residents of the Eastern and Western U.S.
What does the U.S. government know?
The new Gallup poll also notes that a majority say the U.S. government is withholding UFO information.
Seventy-eight percent of Americans say the U.S. government knows more about UFOs than it is telling the public, higher than the 68% and 71% who said so in 2019 and 1996, respectively.
Just 17 percent now say the government is not withholding information, down from 29% in 2019 and 19% in 1996.
Classified files
There is little difference in views across subgroups, including by party identification.
The widespread belief that the government is withholding information about UFOs comes after Trump ordered the Pentagon and other federal agencies in February to begin identifying and releasing government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
The Pentagon released its first batch of previously classified files in May, with additional releases continuing since.
To go the full story — “Americans Still Skeptical That UFOs Are Aliens” — as written by Megan Brenan, a senior editor at Gallup, go to:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/713765/americans-skeptical-ufos-aliens.aspx
Facts Only
Gallup conducted a poll from July 1-19.
49% of Americans believe UFO sightings are caused by human activity or natural phenomena.
37% of Americans believe some UFOs are alien spacecraft.
13% of Americans have no opinion on the cause of UFOs.
83% of Americans have heard or read about UFOs.
17% of Americans report personally seeing a UFO.
61% of self-reported UFO witnesses believe some UFOs are alien spacecraft.
33% of non-witnesses believe some UFOs are alien spacecraft.
78% of Americans believe the U.S. government is withholding UFO information.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February for the release of UFO files.
The Pentagon released the first batch of classified files in May.
Skepticism regarding alien origins is highest among men, adults aged 18-29, college graduates, residents of the Midwest and West, and Democrats.
Executive Summary
Public perception regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) remains divided, with a slight majority attributing sightings to terrestrial or natural causes. Current data shows 49% of Americans believe sightings are explainable via human activity or nature, while 37% believe some may be extraterrestrial spacecraft. A notable trend is the increase in uncertainty, with the share of undecided individuals rising to 13% since 2019.
There is a significant disparity between general awareness and personal experience; while 83% of the population has heard of UFOs, only 17% claim to have seen one. However, those with personal sightings are nearly twice as likely to believe in alien origins compared to those without such experiences. Simultaneously, there is a growing consensus that the U.S. government is withholding information, a sentiment held by 78% of adults. This distrust persists across political lines and coincides with recent executive orders mandating the release of previously classified UFO files from the Pentagon and other agencies.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a paradox: while the public is statistically skeptical of extraterrestrial origins, they are overwhelmingly convinced of a government cover-up. This suggests that the "mystery" of the UFO is less about the objects themselves and more about the perceived opacity of state institutions.
The narrative relies on a correlation between government secrecy and public suspicion. By framing the release of classified files alongside a poll showing high distrust, the information reinforces a feedback loop: the act of releasing files confirms that something was being hidden, which in turn justifies the suspicion that more remains concealed. This is a classic pattern of institutional mistrust where the remedy (transparency) serves as evidence of the prior offense (secrecy).
Patterns detected: none
This dynamic echoes a broader historical paradigm of the "deep state" or the "secret government," where the absence of evidence is interpreted as evidence of a sophisticated cover-up. The underlying assumption is that the government possesses a monopoly on the truth regarding existential threats or discoveries. This shifts the locus of agency from scientific discovery to political disclosure; the "truth" is not something to be found through observation, but something to be granted by authority.
If this were a coordinated influence campaign, the playbook would involve leaking fragmented, ambiguous data to sustain a permanent state of curiosity and suspicion, thereby eroding trust in official narratives without ever providing a definitive "smoking gun." The current content does not match this pattern; it is a straightforward presentation of polling data and policy actions.
Bridge Questions:
1. Does the increase in "unsure" responses reflect a genuine lack of opinion, or a cautious response to the increasing politicization of the topic?
2. Why does the belief in government secrecy remain consistent across party lines while belief in alien origins varies by demographic?
3. If the government released all available files and they proved inconclusive, would public distrust decrease, or would the "cover-up" narrative simply evolve?