Larry Ragland Apologizes After Eric Burlison Ufo Files Clip

Pastor and YouTuber Larry Ragland apologized on Wednesday after a viral ufo files clip suggested that Eric Burlison had said aliens invented Christianity during a private pastors’ meeting. Burlison, a Republican Representative from Missouri, responded that he did not know what the strange objects in the skies are or where they came from.

Ragland said the congressman in the video was Burlison and that he called in to encourage pastors and thank them for their work. Burlison said he had been asked to join by phone for a conference or meeting of theologians.

Ragland’s Wednesday statement

In his correction, Ragland said, "In this video, I stated that a congressmen from Missouri had called in to speak to the pastors. And of course, it's being revealed now that this is Congressman Eric Burlison." He added, "He did call in. But he called in to encourage us and to thank us pastors for the work that we're doing."

Ragland also said, "I should have stopped and paused and said, 'And this part is my opinion,' and in the heat of that, I didn't." He followed that with, "I want to make it very clear that Eric Burlison did not say those words."

Burlison’s X response

Burlison wrote on X that he "greatly appreciate[d] the pastor's comments here" and said he did not hold Ragland responsible for the mix-up. He added, "I have been in politics for a while, and have interviewed with countless media outlets on countless topics. But I have never had my words more scrutinized and dissected as when I talk about the topic of UAPs."

He also wrote, "I do NOT know what the strange objects in the skies are and I certainly do NOT know their origins." Burlison said, "I was asked to call in by phone to a conference/meeting of theologians," and added, "I could not tell you all that was said at that meeting because I was not there and did not hear much of what was said."

Ufo files pressure

The apology landed as Congress and the public have pushed for more information on sightings and investigations around unidentified flying objects in recent months. Congress has already held hearings on the phenomena, and President Donald Trump said the government would be "releasing as much as we can in the near future."

For Burlison, the immediate effect is simple: he has publicly rejected the claim that he said aliens seeded humanity, while Ragland has publicly corrected the clip that spread the claim. The record now rests on the two statements they each put out on Wednesday.