President Truman Addresses UFO Reports at Press Conference During Washington D.C. Wave

On July 20, 1952, during the Washington D.C. UFO wave, President Harry S. Truman publicly acknowledged military discussions about unidentified flying objects at a press conference — marking the first confirmed instance of a sitting U.S. president doing so.

The Incident

During the 1952 Washington D.C. UFO wave, unidentified objects were tracked on radar over the Capitol and the White House on consecutive weekends. When asked at a press conference whether the Joint Chiefs of Staff had discussed unidentified flying objects with him, President Truman responded directly to the question.

Presidential Statement

Truman's response was candid:

• "Oh yes, we discussed it at every conference that we had with the military"
• The Joint Chiefs of Staff were unable to provide concrete findings
• "They were never able to make me a concrete report on that"

Historical Significance

This press conference marked the first confirmed public acknowledgment by a sitting U.S. President of military discussions regarding UFOs. The statement demonstrated that military leadership had engaged with the phenomenon at the highest levels of government, despite lacking definitive explanations.