'If it's all true... bring out the alien': Neil deGrasse Tyson demands hard evidence of alien life after UFO files release

Renowned astrophysicist and science writer Neil deGrasse Tyson is well known for his takes on aliens and UFOs. Recently, following the release of UFO files by the FBI and the Pentagon, the 67-year-old appeared in an interaction with CNN’s Dana Bash to discuss the topic. 

The image shows deGrasse Tyson at the Miami International Autodrome before the Miami F1 Grand Prix in May 2026.

The Pentagon released 161 records of alleged Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), earlier known as UFOs. Released on May 8, 2026, the declassified files contain records as early as the 1940s, while the latest ones date as recently as the 2020s. However, despite containing military footage, radar data, transcripts, and more, the government has not provided any definitive proof of alien life. 

The image shows a declassified file released by the Pentagon.

Speaking with Bash, deGrasse Tyson pointed out that the accounts do not only come from random individuals. Rather, testimonies from sincere men of high rank and ex-military personnel have been recorded in the files. “So not only have they sort of said that they have got alien body parts and reverse-engineered technologies, that's sort of consistent with the files that were released that -- all I'm going to ask is, where's the alien?" said deGrasse Tyson. 

The image portrays deGrasse Tyson giving a lecture at the 2015 Special Programming Announcement of the National Geographic Channel Winter Television Critics Association press tour.

In the same discussion, the 67-year-old stressed on the fact that if the government really does have an alien being, they must disclose it to the public. Tyson said, "If it's all true, they ought to be able to bring out the alien. I'm sitting on the couch waiting patiently for that... Just bring out the alien and get it over with."

The image shows Neil deGrasse Tyson at the AOL Studios, New York, on October 28, 2015. 

Neil deGrasse Tyson has always been vocal about alien life. Earlier, the astrophysicist had stated that the idea of Earth being the only planet to sustain life is “inexcusably bigheaded.” Further reiterating his stance, the 67-year-old said on MS Now’s ‘Morning Joe’ following the Pentagon’s release, “If they bring out an alien or if an alien does arrive, we should be prepared for that.”

The image shows Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking at the ‘Nat Geo Further Base Camp’ in 2017.