This feels like an op to me. The timing is uncanny. If this story develops, I predict some escalation of current conflicts with some advanced weaponry (chemical, biological, nuclear, energy, space-based, etc) and the alien story to be used as cover.
Alternatively, it’s a continuation of reactionary mobilization propaganda. Thought?
The crumbling state of the empire, perhaps. “Hey we know you can’t afford to have kids or healthcare and homelessness has risen like 500%, but LOOK, ALIENS!!!” Same thing with the “woke” culture war shit. It gets the working class riled up about something other than their real problems.
If deem aliens show up, I just want them to take me away from all this.