Donald Trump said Thursday he will direct the Pentagon and other federal agencies to begin releasing government records related to extraterrestrial life and unidentified aerial phenomena.
In a post on Truth Social Trump said he would instruct officials to identify and release files connected to “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”
“Based on the tremendous interest shown,” Trump wrote agencies will begin the process of reviewing and releasing relevant government documents.
It was not immediately clear what the records contain or when they would be made public.
In recent years the Pentagon has expanded investigations into UAP sightings through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
In a 2024 report the office said it had found no evidence of extraterrestrial life.
Trump’s remarks follow comments made by former President Barack Obama during an interview with podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen.
When asked whether aliens are real Obama responded, “They’re real but I haven’t seen them.”
He added that there was no evidence during his presidency that extraterrestrials had contacted Earth.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One Trump questioned Obama’s remarks saying, “Well, I don’t know if they’re real or not. I can tell you he gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that.”
Public attention around UAPs has grown in recent years fueled in part by conspiracy theories and bipartisan calls for greater transparency.
Jon Kosloski director of AARO acknowledged in 2024 that some cases still lack sufficient data for definitive conclusions.
“There are interesting cases that I — my physics and engineering background, and time in the intelligence community — do not understand,” Kosloski said at the time, noting that further analysis is ongoing.
It remains unclear when or how extensively the newly ordered records will be released.
Still, the move signals renewed federal attention on a subject that has long drawn public curiosity and debate.
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