WASHINGTON — He needed more space and time. Former President Barack Obama has clarified his casual but dramatic claim that aliens are “real,” caveating that he never came across solid evidence of extraterrestrial life during his presidency.

Barack Obama has clarified a recent interview in which he said aliens are “real,” insisting he saw “no evidence” that extraterrestrials have made contact with us while he was U.S. President.

Former President Obama recently said on a podcast he believed aliens were real.