President Donald Trump announced that he is directing federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to identify and release all government files related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and extraterrestrial life.
The announcement, made via Truth Social, marks a significant shift in government transparency regarding what are colloquially known as UFOs.
The “Tremendous Interest” Directive
In his statement, President Trump cited a heightened level of public curiosity as the primary motivation for the declassification order.
“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)… GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The “Obama Controversy”
The timing of the order appears to be directly linked to recent viral comments made by former President Barack Obama.
- The Claim: During a podcast interview last week, Obama stated that aliens are “real” while clarifying that they are not being held at Area 51.
- The Accusation: Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Obama had committed a “big mistake” by disclosing “classified information.”
- The Rationale: Trump suggested that by declassifying the relevant files himself, he would effectively “get [Obama] out of trouble” while satisfying public demand for the truth.
What Files Could Be Released?
While the specific contents of the files remain unknown, the order targets several key agencies and historical records:
| Agency/Area | Potential Information |
| AARO (Pentagon) | Investigative files from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office regarding military UAP sightings. |
| The “X-Files” | Historical declassification of legacy programs from the 1940s through the Cold War. |
| Area 51 | Any records related to the Groom Lake facility that pertain specifically to non-human intelligence. |
| NASA | Scientific data and sensor telemetry from civilian research into anomalous phenomena. |
Critical Context & Reaction
- Political Support: The move has seen surprising bipartisan interest, with Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) remarking that if the President is going to “release all of The X-Files,” it could be a rare point of common ground.
- Skepticism: Some critics have labeled the move a “distraction” from ongoing domestic controversies, including the final tranches of the Epstein files and recent environmental issues.
- Previous Action: This directive follows the April 2025 release of the first tranche of UAP Records by the National Archives, mandated by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Official Stance on Extraterrestrials
Despite the declassification order, official reports as recently as 2024 (from the Pentagon’s AARO) have maintained that there is “no empirical evidence” that any government investigation has confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial technology or beings.
