A significant directive has come from Donald Trump, who states he will order government agencies to make public records related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and possible extraterrestrial life. This action follows recent public comments from former President Barack Obama regarding the existence of life beyond Earth. The directive points to ongoing public interest in these complex matters and raises questions about what new information, if any, may emerge from government archives.
"Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters."
Background of the Directive
On Thursday, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, stating his plan to direct the Pentagon and other federal agencies to begin releasing government files on aliens and UFOs. This announcement came shortly after Trump accused former President Barack Obama of sharing classified information. Obama had recently spoken about aliens during a podcast appearance.
Obama initially said, "They’re real, but I haven’t seen them." He later made clear that he had no evidence of aliens making contact but noted that the large size of the universe suggests a good chance of life existing elsewhere. Trump, when asked about extraterrestrial visitors, stated he had "no opinion on it." The specific details of what these government records contain or when they might be released remain unclear. Public interest in unknown flying objects and the idea of government secrets on extraterrestrial life became strong again after videos from the Navy showing unknown objects were shared with newspapers in 2017. Since then, the Pentagon has promised to be more open about this topic.
Read More: Reform UK Candidate Wants to Review Public Unions Before May Elections
The Scope of Release
Trump's instruction is wide, covering many government files.
He named the "Secretary of War" and "other relevant Departments and Agencies" to identify and release documents.
The types of information requested include "alien and extraterrestrial life," "unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)," and "unidentified flying objects (UFOs)."
This means a search across many parts of the government for information that has been kept secret.
What actual files will be found and shared is not yet known.
Official Stance on UAPs
The Pentagon has tracked reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) for many years. Military pilots and service members have reported seeing hundreds of objects that they cannot explain.
Read More: Donald Trump donates $400,000 salary in August 2025 but history shows others did too
In 2023, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, who led the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), stated there was no evidence of any program reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology.
A report given to Congress in June 2024 shared details of 485 UAP reports made by service members in the past year.
This report found that 118 of these cases were "normal objects such as various types of balloons, birds, and unmanned aerial systems."
The AARO report clearly stated, "It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology."
These statements from official sources provide a contrasting view to the public discussions about alien life.
Political Context of the Announcement
Donald Trump's directive comes amid a public exchange with Barack Obama, two leaders who are known political rivals.
Trump's announcement came after he accused Obama of revealing classified information during his podcast interview.
Obama's initial comment, "They're real," led to media attention, prompting him to clarify his statement later.
Was the timing of Trump's directive influenced by Obama's recent remarks?
The interaction highlights a political tension that seems to touch on a topic of long-standing public curiosity.
Long-Term Public Interest
The public has long shown great interest in UFOs and the possibility of alien life.
Stories and reports of unexplained objects in the sky have fueled public talk for decades.
In 2017, leaks of Navy videos showing unknown objects renewed public attention and led to calls for more transparency.
Lawmakers have also pushed the Pentagon to look into UAPs to see if they are a threat to national safety.
This consistent public interest is cited by Trump as a reason for his directive.
Conclusion
Donald Trump has stated his plan to order government agencies to release files related to aliens, UAPs, and UFOs. This follows recent public remarks from Barack Obama, which were later made clearer. While Trump has not given his own opinion on alien life, the official stance from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) and the Pentagon has been that no evidence of extraterrestrial beings or technology has been found to date.
The move by Trump points to the strong and lasting public interest in these subjects. It also adds a new part to the ongoing discussion about government transparency regarding unknown aerial phenomena. What specific information will be made public and when remains to be seen. The impact of such a release on public understanding or official narratives is still an unknown.
Read More: Donald Trump Comments on Canada After US Women's Hockey Olympic Win
Most Used Sources
Trump says he doesn't know if aliens are real but directs govt to release files on UFOs, more (Provides Trump's full statement, Obama's remarks and clarification, AARO's statements.)
Trump directs US government to prepare release of files on aliens and UFOs (Confirms Trump's directive and link to Obama's comments, political context.)
Trump says he will direct government agencies to release files related to extraterrestrial life | CNN Politics (Details Trump's post, agencies directed, and mentions Obama's clarification.)
Trump says he's directing Pentagon to release any files on UFOs and "alien and extraterrestrial life" (Reinforces Trump's directive, names agencies, and mentions past UAP reports and lawmaker interest.)
Trump says he will order the release of Pentagon files on aliens and UFOs (Confirms Trump's order, Obama's initial quote and clarification, and Trump's lack of opinion.)
Trump says he’s ordering release of US files on UFOs and aliens (Repeats Trump's statement, Obama's comments, and reason for "tremendous interest.")
Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens (Provides Trump's directive and Obama's full clarification, also notes press secretary's reaction.)
)
