Overview
Former head of Israel’s space agency, Prof. Haim Eshed, has resurfaced in the media with a claim that former U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on the existence of a “galactic federation” of extraterrestrials. The allegation, reported by the International Business Times UK on Dec. 8, 2025, adds to a series of unverified statements made by Eshed over the past few years. While the story has generated considerable online buzz, neither the U.S. government nor any independent agency has produced evidence to substantiate the claim, prompting a wave of skepticism from scientists and policy analysts alike.
Background on the Source
Prof. Eshed, who led the Israel Space Agency from 2005 to 2018, first entered the global UFO discourse in 2020 when he suggested that a secret alien base existed on the Moon and that world governments were aware of it. He later clarified that his comments were “misinterpreted” and that he was speaking metaphorically about humanity’s future in space. In a recent interview, Eshed told the outlet, “I was personally invited to a meeting in the White House where the President was informed that we are not alone and that there is an inter‑stellar federation that monitors Earth.” No documentation or corroborating witnesses have been offered to verify the meeting.
The Claim in Detail
According to Eshed, the briefing occurred during Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, a period when the former president publicly expressed interest in “UFOs” and ordered the Department of Defense to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). Eshed asserted that the information was presented by senior officials from an undisclosed “international coalition” that includes representatives of the alleged federation. He added, “The President was told that the federation has been observing humanity for centuries and will intervene only if we become a threat to the galaxy.” The statement was made without reference to any classified documents, recordings, or third‑party confirmation.
Reactions from Experts and Officials
U.S. officials have not commented on Eshed’s specific allegation, and a request for comment to the White House was unanswered. Former Pentagon UAP program director Luis Elizondo described the claim as “extraordinary and, without evidence, purely speculative,” emphasizing that the 2021 congressional report on UAPs focused on flight safety and national security, not extraterrestrial diplomacy. Astrophysicist Dr. Sara Patel of the University of Cambridge noted, “While the scientific community welcomes any credible data on non‑human intelligence, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof—something that is absent here.” The Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology also declined to verify Eshed’s statements, citing confidentiality protocols.
Context Within the Broader UFO Narrative
The resurgence of high‑profile UFO discussions in recent years—spurred by the Pentagon’s declassified UAP videos and the establishment of the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)—has created a fertile environment for sensational claims. Trump’s own 2020 tweet, “UFOs are real, and they’re coming,” has been cited by proponents as evidence of governmental acknowledgment, yet no direct link to a “galactic federation” has emerged in official records. Eshed’s assertion aligns with a pattern of former officials making dramatic disclosures without accompanying evidence, a trend that analysts warn can erode public trust in legitimate UAP investigations.
Outlook
As the story circulates, journalists and researchers are urging caution. Fact‑checking organizations have placed Eshed’s claim in the “unverified” category, and the lack of tangible proof means the allegation is likely to remain on the fringe of the UFO discourse. Nonetheless, the episode underscores the persistent public fascination with extraterrestrial life and the challenges governments face in balancing transparency with national security. Until corroborating evidence surfaces, the claim that President Trump was briefed on a “galactic federation” will remain an unsubstantiated anecdote within an already complex and evolving field.
