‘No indication of aliens’ in spate of shoot-downs, White House claims

WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that the US government has “no indication of aliens” in the downing of three unidentified flying objects over the US and Canada — one day after a top general said he couldn’t rule it out.

The trio of shoot-downs — off Alaska’s Arctic coastline Friday, over Canada’s Yukon Territory on Saturday, and over Lake Huron on Sunday — follow the downing of a high-altitude Chinese spy balloon off South Carolina’s coast on Feb. 4.

“I just want to make sure we address this from the White House,” Jean-Pierre said at the start of her regular press briefing. “I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no — again, no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns.”

The remark was said in a light-hearted tone, with Jean-Pierre adding that she “wanted to make sure that the American people knew that … we’ve been hearing a lot about it.”

“I loved ‘E.T.’ the movie,” President Biden’s top spokesperson added, “but I’m sure going to leave it there.”