(NewsNation) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is one of many high-profile individuals who have raised questions about alleged secret UAP programs run by the Pentagon.

The subject of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or what most people call UFOs, has been of increasing interest following whistleblower testimony from David Grusch, who alleged the Pentagon has been operating a top-secret UFO program.

Rubio is one of many high-profile subjects who are appearing in the upcoming documentary “Age of Disclosure,” which addresses the subject and alleged government UFO cover-ups.

Speaking with NewsNation’s Joe Khalil, Rubio said he believes the topic deserves more serious inquiry than it has received in the past.

“There’s a stigma associated with it. Nobody wants to be known as the ‘UFO guy,'” he said.

Rubio said the topic has become one of major concern for him.

“Things are flying over sensitive restricted airspace in the U.S., and they claim it’s not ours. That alone is reason to look into this stuff,” he said. “My biggest fear in all this, frankly, is that some adversary has made a technological leap. That would be really bad news, and we would be caught flat-footed on it.”

He also noted that Grusch is just one of a number of whistleblowers who have come forward with allegations about UAP programs.

“One of two things here are true. Either what he is saying is true or partially true, or we have some really smart, educated people with high clearances and very important positions in our government who are crazy and leading us on a goose chase,” Rubio said. “Either one is a problem.”

Rubio told NewsNation that it is difficult to assess credibility when it comes to a topic that has been treated less than seriously but noted that many of those who have come forward have done so while also being afraid of the consequences.

“I find most of these people, at some point or even currently, have held very high clearances or very high positions in our government,” Rubio said. “What incentive would people with those qualifications have, these are very serious people, to come forward and make something up?”

At the end of the day, Rubio said whistleblowers deserve to be heard and their allegations need to be seriously examined.

“No one’s ever asked these questions before. This has been the realm of science fiction,” he said.