US President Donald Trump says he plans to instruct federal agencies to begin locating and releasing government records related to UFOs, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and possible extraterrestrial life.
In a post on his Truth Social account on Thursday (US time), Trump said the move follows strong public interest. He stated that relevant departments would be directed to identify and disclose files connected to what he described as “highly complex, but extremely interesting and important” subjects. He did not clarify whether classified materials would be made public.
Public fascination with UFOs has persisted for decades, with many Americans seeking access to official records. Interest has increased in recent years as the US government investigated reports of unusual aerial sightings, often amid concerns that foreign adversaries could be testing advanced technology.
Earlier the same day, Trump criticized comments made by former president Barack Obama during a recent podcast appearance, claiming Obama had shared “classified” information. In the interview, Obama said that while unidentified phenomena are real in the sense that they are observed, he saw no evidence during his presidency that extraterrestrials had contacted Earth or were being hidden at secret facilities such as Area 51.
Obama later clarified his remarks in a social media post, explaining that while the size of the universe makes the existence of life elsewhere statistically possible, the vast distances between star systems make alien visitation unlikely. He emphasized that he encountered no proof of extraterrestrial contact while in office.
Trump did not specify which part of Obama’s comments he considered classified and said he was unsure whether aliens exist.
To date, no confirmed evidence has been produced of intelligent life beyond Earth. In March 2024, the Pentagon released a report stating it found no proof that UAP sightings involved alien technology, with many cases attributed to balloons, aircraft, satellites, or other routine activity.
