A reasonable surmise. No real aliens need apply. There are so many gullible folk in the world it would be a great tool for a would-be world dictator.
However, just for the sake of argument, if there is some forthcoming “revelation” concerning ET life forms, how will we, the viewers of government-sponsored ET documentaries, be able to discern whether an elaborate charade is being played on us or not? Given the right special effects team, any visual experience imaginable could be a complete fake. What would be the test of reality in such a case? Thought experiment time.
Im going to need some really hard core, non movie magic tricks.
If they can on live TV turn an ABC reporter into a pile of sand, then turn the sand/reporter into a Reptilitan, and the Reptilian uses it’s tongue to grab and swallow the podium, followed by levitating, firing laser beams from it’s eyes and creating a huge crater. Then the Alien will fill the crater with water and have a 1000 beautiful female Alien mermaid-like creatures appear from the water. I then want them to use their powers of telepathy and compel Barney Frank to come forward and french kiss one of them.
That’s just for starters.
“That Earth landing was staged in a studio in Burbank!”
The critters will be involved in whatever demonstrations they have to offer in the local park in every city in the land.
This stuff has been planned a VERY long time.