On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump revealed details about what military pilots told him in the White House regarding their encounters with UFOs exhibiting inexplicable properties. He shared this story while appearing on the popular Fox News show “Gutfeld!” after panelist Kat Timpf asked him if there were aliens being held at Area 51, the infamous Air Force base in Nevada.

“You know, I’ll tell you, it’s a funny thing because — I think that might be a question that I get more than any question. It is the craziest thing,” Trump began.

“So we have that so-called area, they consider it like a sacred area. And I will say this: I don’t think I’m a believer, but I’ve interviewed pilots that look — I like Tom Cruise, but better than Tom Cruise,” he continued, eliciting laughter from the audience. “The blonde crewcuts, the whole … and this, ‘Yes, sir.’”

Trump recounted what the pilots conveyed during their visit. He stated, “And they were in the Oval Office, three or four pilots. These are not people that make up stories. … They said, ‘All I know, sir, is there was a round object that was going four times faster than my F-22,’ which is a very fast plane, ‘and it wasn’t a — you know, it shouldn’t have been — it was round, sir.’ They have seen, I mean, four or five guys I’ve interviewed, solid people, great pilots for the U.S. Air Force, etc. They’ve seen things that they cannot explain.”

Earlier this year, Trump discussed UFO accounts from pilots during interviews with Logan Paul and Hugh Hewitt, although he emphasized that his primary focus was on threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. He also mentioned to podcast host Lex Fridman that he would “love” to press the Pentagon to release more UFO footage if he were re-elected in 2024.

In response to calls for greater transparency, the Department of Defense established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate UFO reports, and there has been growing legislative momentum for more disclosure. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to hold a new UFO hearing in November.