Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie seemed taken aback by being the only candidate to be asked about UFOs during Wednesday night’s Republican presidential primary debate.
Moderator Martha MacCallum asked Christie what he would do as president to get in line with Americans about what the government knows about alien encounters. The FOX news host added that more and more people are taking the concept of unidentified flying objects seriously after last month’s Congressional hearing.
“I understand the UFO question?” said Christie in surprise.
Christie then jokingly insinuated that MacCallum asked him the question because they are both from New Jersey.
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“Especially coming from a woman from New Jersey, I hate that because I’m from New Jersey you asked me about unidentified flying objects and Martians,” Christie said. “We’re different, but we’re not that different.”
Christie added that it is the president’s job to be honest with the American people, whether the discussion is about UFOs or problems with the education system.
“The job of the President of the United States is to align with the American people on everything. The job of the President of the United States is to stand up for the truth,” Christie said.
MacCallum’s question to Christie comes as there is increased pressure from both sides on the government’s executive branch and the military to release information about so-called unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), or UFOs.
Witnesses called for greater military transparency on UFOs at the July hearing
At a congressional hearing last month, three former military members called for more military transparency about the federal government’s handling of pilot reports of strange encounters.
Former Navy pilot Ryan Graves, Rt. Commander David Fravor and former Air Force and intelligence official David Grusch accounted to the House Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on national security.
Reports and videos of sightings have been surfacing for years. According to witnesses, the incidents show crafts moving in ways beyond what human technology is apparently capable of. At the hearing, the witnesses suggested that the technology observed by the phenomena could be so advanced that it would take humanity decades to match.
“The American people deserve to know what’s happening in our skies,” Graves said at the hearing. “It’s a long time ago.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘I get the UFO question?’ Candidate Chris Christie surprised at debate
