US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has instructed federal agencies to initiate the process of uncovering and disclosing government records related to UFOs and extraterrestrial beings, a demand long-awaited by some members of the public.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “In response to the significant interest expressed, I will be instructing the Secretary of War and relevant Departments and Agencies to commence the identification and release of Government files regarding alien life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).” Although he did not specifically mention making classified documents public, Trump emphasized that the files should encompass “any and all other information linked to these intricate yet highly captivating and significant subjects.”
Earlier that day, the Republican President made claims that former Democratic President Barack Obama disclosed “classified” details in his recent widely-shared podcast statements regarding the presence of extraterrestrial life. Obama had mentioned in an interview with host Brian Tyler Cohen that extraterrestrial beings are real but are not housed in Area 51, the secretive US military base in Nevada associated with numerous UFO conspiracy theories.
Responding to Obama’s remarks, Trump criticized the disclosure of classified information, stating, “He is not supposed to be divulging classified data.” While Trump did not specify the exact nature of the classified information in Obama’s comments, he asserted that Obama had erred by making such revelations.
Regarding his personal views on aliens, the 79-year-old Trump admitted, “I am uncertain whether they exist or not.” Despite widespread interest in UFOs and UAP, there is currently no concrete evidence supporting the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in UFOs and UAP as the US government investigated numerous reports of seemingly inexplicable aircraft, driven by concerns that adversaries might be testing highly advanced technologies. In March 2024, the Pentagon released a report stating that there was no evidence to suggest that UAP were of alien origin, with many reported sightings being attributed to weather balloons, reconnaissance aircraft, satellites, and other conventional activities.
