FORMER US president George Bush Sr knew UFOs were real but took his secrets to the grave because the American people "could not handle the truth", a lobbyist has claimed.

The 41st President of the United States, who died last month aged 94, was a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was briefed daily by spooks while in the White House.

6 George Bush Sr was briefed on all of America's UFO secrets , according to expert Credit: Rex Features

And according to UFO researchers he would have been the "ideal" president to disclose the truth about UFOs as he was so well informed.

But he kept all his UFO knowledge a secret right up until he died at his home in Houston, Texas.

Steve Bassett, an American UFO lobbyist, told Sun Online Bush knew the truth about extra terrestrial life and could have ended the UFO cover-up.

He said: "The consensus among researchers is George H. W. Bush would have been briefed on the extra-terrestrial presence to whatever extent he so desired.

6 Bush did not believe people could "handle" the truth about UFOs Credit: Getty

"There is no clear evidence George H. W. Bush wanted 'Disclosure'. That said, it is my view the military/intelligence complex would have been quite comfortable with 'Disclosure' taking place during a second term of President George H. W. Bush.

"He would have been the ideal 'Disclosure' President from their perspective. The Cold War was over and the door was now open to end a very expensive and complex truth embargo."

While director of the CIA, Bush is said to have even blocked former president Jimmy Carter's attempts to obtain UFO information during an alleged briefing on November 19, 1976.

Bush told the president-elect he didn't have the need to know but if he wanted information he should ask the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to prepare a briefing for the new administration.

6 Steve Bassett is the only registered UFO lobbyist on the alien disclosure subject in the US Credit: Steve Bassett

Carter had pledged he would disclose to US citizens what the government knew about UFOs if elected after witnessing a strange light while governor of Georgia in 1969.

Bassett, the executive director of UFO campaign group Paradigm Research Group, thinks Bush rebuffed Carter as he knew some UFOs were extra-terrestrial in origin.

He said: "We do know the newly elected President Carter approached CIA Director Bush regarding a study the White House wished to initiate regarding the extra-terrestrial issue.

"Bush declined to cooperate and referred him to another agency. This may have guaranteed he would not be able to stay on as CIA Director - or not.

"Carter fired him shortly thereafter. One might ask, 'If there was no truth to the extra-terrestrial hypothesis, why would Bush disrespect a presidential request?'"

6 Bush Sr was the former director of the CIA Credit: Rex Features

While campaigning with his son Jeb Bush in the 1980s, Bush was asked about UFOs by a journalist. He replied: "Americans can't handle the truth."

Bush was also quizzed by UFO researcher Charles Huffer during a presidential rally trip to Rogers, Arkansas, in 1988 during which he asked Bush: "Will you tell the people the truth about UFOs?"

Bush replied: "Yeah. if we can find it, what it is. We are really interested." When pressed further Bush replied: "I know some. I know a fair amount."

Bush also supported space exploration, and was once quoted in a speech as saying: "We will travel to neighbouring stars, to new worlds, to discover the unknown."

6 Bush believed Americans "could not handle the truth about UFOs" Credit: Getty

Bassett, who organised the Citizens Hearings in 2012 - which saw dozens of military, government and intelligence officers give evidence about UFOs to six former members of Congress - believes Bush was also aware of the infamous Roswell UFO crash in July 1947.

He added: "It is my view Bush was quite knowledgeable about the history of the extra-terrestrial presence to the extent he required. Did that include the July 1947 Roswell events? Almost certainly yes."

Last year Bush's son George appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live show to plug his autobiography but remained tight-lipped when asked about UFOs.

Kimmel said: "This is a question I think is very important to me and very important to the country.

"When you were in office - and I don't know when this ever or if it happened - did you go through the secret files, the UFO documents? Because if I was president that would be the first thing I did."

But instead of laughing off the question or branding Kimmel a crackpot, the former US leader replied: "Maybe."

6 Bush would have known about the infamous Roswell incident, according to Bassett Credit: Getty

He then went on to reveal his daughters Barbara and Jenna asked him the same question when he served as the 43rd President of the United States but he couldn't tell them anything.

Bush was one of three former presidents and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, to go on Kimmel to discuss the UFO topic.

Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton have all previously spoken out about UFOs on the show.

Hillary vowed to launch a probe if she made it to the White House but she was pipped by Donald Trump.

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And Hillary’s campaign manager John Podesta, Bill’s former Chief of Staff, has called for the lid to be lifted on UFOs.

In 2015, he tweeted his biggest regret after leaving his job as President Obama’s advisor was “once again not securing the #disclosure of the UFO files.”

President Trump recently announced plans to launch a US Space Force by 2020 - some insiders believe it is in response to a hostile alien threat.