US President Donald Trump says he intends to direct federal agencies to begin reviewing and releasing government records related to UFOs, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and potential extraterrestrial life.

In a post shared Thursday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the decision comes in response to sustained public interest. He stated that relevant departments would be instructed to identify and make available files connected to what he described as “complex, highly interesting, and important” topics. Trump did not specify whether any classified materials would be included in the release.

Public interest in UFO-related records has existed for decades, with renewed attention in recent years as the US government examined reports of unexplained aerial sightings. Many of those investigations have focused on determining whether such incidents could be linked to advanced technologies developed by foreign adversaries.

Earlier the same day, Trump criticized remarks made by former president Barack Obama during a recent podcast appearance, claiming Obama had disclosed “classified” information. In the interview, Obama said that unidentified aerial phenomena are real in the sense that they are observed, but added that he found no evidence during his presidency of extraterrestrial contact or secret alien facilities, including at Area 51.

Obama later clarified his comments in a social media post, explaining that while the vast size of the universe makes the existence of life elsewhere statistically plausible, the immense distances between solar systems make alien visitation unlikely. He emphasized that he encountered no proof of extraterrestrial contact while in office.

Trump did not identify which portion of Obama’s remarks he considered classified and said he personally remains unsure whether extraterrestrial life exists.

To date, no confirmed evidence has been produced showing intelligent life beyond Earth. In March 2024, the Pentagon released a report stating it found no evidence that UAP sightings involved alien technology, with many cases attributed to weather balloons, aircraft, satellites, and other routine or explainable activity.