On Thursday, President Trump took a bold step by instructing his administration to unveil files concerning UFOs and any potential "alien and extraterrestrial life," reigniting a topic that has captivated the public for decades.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth along with other agency leaders "to begin the process of identifying and releasing" pertinent documents.
He emphasized the need for transparency, calling for the release of "any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters."
The specifics of what UFO-related files might be disclosed remain uncertain. The Pentagon has monitored reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) for years. However, a 2024 military report stated that no government investigation has confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of former President Barack Obama’s recent remarks on a podcast, where he suggested that aliens are indeed real. He later clarified that during his presidency, he had not encountered evidence of human-alien contact, attributing his belief in extraterrestrial life to the vastness of the universe.
When asked about Obama’s comments, Trump expressed uncertainty regarding the existence of aliens but criticized his predecessor for allegedly "making a big mistake" and "giving classified information." He quipped, "I may get him out of trouble by declassifying."
Interest in UAPs has surged in recent years, with pilots and military personnel reporting numerous sightings of unexplained aerial objects. This has prompted some lawmakers to urge the Pentagon to investigate these phenomena further to assess any potential threats to safety or national security.
Last year, a House Republican released a whistleblower video showing a U.S. missile striking an unidentified glowing orb in the sky. Additionally, a former Navy pilot recounted frequent encounters with strange, fast-moving objects in restricted airspace during an interview with "60 Minutes."
While many UAP reports can be attributed to mundane explanations such as birds, balloons, drones, and satellites, the military's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office acknowledges that numerous cases remain unresolved.
"It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology," stated the office in its 2024 report. Furthermore, it noted that there is "no indication or confirmation that these activities are attributable to foreign adversaries."
