Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) appeared on NewsNation's "Elizabeth Vargas Reports" on Tuesday, describing his personal experience with unidentified aerial phenomena and renewing his call for government transparency on the issue.
The Tennessee Republican told host Elizabeth Vargas that he has viewed photographs and video of objects that cannot be explained by conventional technology. "I've seen pictures and video of things that defy any reason that we have," Burchett said. He added that military personnel and others have told him the objects could be American, Russian, or Chinese technology, but he expressed skepticism about each possibility.
"If it's the Chinese, ma'am, they would own us," Burchett said. "If it was the Russians, they wouldn't be bogged down in Ukraine. If it was ours, we would never risk our military fighting men and women in half-a-billion-dollar aircraft out with these things that they're spotting."
Burchett described objects with unusual capabilities: "These things can hover for hours on end, then they can just shoot straight up, they can do angles." He also recounted a conversation with an admiral about a sonar detection of an underwater craft "almost as big as a football field" traveling over 200 miles per hour. "We don't have anything of that capability or that size," Burchett said.
The comments come days after President Trump said at a Turning Point USA event that the "first releases" of government files on UFOs "will begin very, very soon." In February, Trump directed the Department of Defense to release files "related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects."
Former President Obama recently commented on the topic, telling liberal commentator Brian Tyler Cohen that aliens are "real" — though he later clarified he was referring to the size of the universe, not classified information. Trump responded by suggesting Obama had revealed classified details.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and watchdog groups have generally supported greater transparency on UFO sightings, though some express caution about the political framing of the issue. Democrats have emphasized the need for rigorous scientific analysis and oversight rather than sensationalism.
The Pentagon has faced scrutiny from both parties over its handling of UAP reports. Some progressive voices have noted that decades of government secrecy have fueled speculation, and they argue full disclosure could help dispel conspiracy theories while addressing legitimate national security concerns.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) has been among the Democrats calling for more transparency, arguing that taxpayers deserve to know what their government has documented. progressive commentators have noted that the push for disclosure spans the political spectrum, with bipartisan concern about potential aerospace threats.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans have been vocal advocates for declassifying UFO files, with figures like Burchett leading the charge. The right has framed government transparency on UFOs as a matter of accountability and skepticism toward federal agencies.
Trump's direct order to the Pentagon to release UAP files has been welcomed by conservative lawmakers as a fulfillment of campaign promises to increase government openness. Many Republicans have echoed Burchett's call to "just put it out there and let people decide."
Conservative commentators have criticized what they characterize as decades of government obfuscation on the topic. The argument that "it's power, it's about control and it's arrogance" — as Burchett described — resonates with broader conservative skepticism toward federal institutions.
What the Numbers Show
The National Office of Marine Intelligence has documented numerous UAP sightings, with over 800 cases logged in the Pentagon's official records as of late 2024. Of these, officials have stated that a small percentage remain unexplained after analysis.
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 41% of Americans believe UFOs are likely extraterrestrial spacecraft, while 35% believe they are likely secret military or government technology. Poll numbers have remained relatively stable over decades, with belief in extraterrestrial visitations varying by demographic and political affiliation.
The DOD's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was established in 2022 to coordinate investigation of UAP sightings across military and intelligence agencies. The office has received funding increases in recent defense budgets as Congress mandated more regular reporting on sightings.
The Bottom Line
Burchett's public statements reflect growing bipartisan pressure for government transparency on unidentified aerial phenomena. The Trump administration's commitment to releasing files could provide the most comprehensive public look at military and intelligence assessments of UAPs in decades.
The political dynamics around UFO disclosure span traditional left-right lines, with advocates across the spectrum arguing for transparency. What remains to be seen is whether the promised document releases will satisfy curiosity or fuel further questions about what the government knows.