US President Donald Trump has instructed federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to identify and release government records related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and extraterrestrial life. Trump did not clarify whether the documents would be made public, but emphasised that files should include “any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
Trump announced the directive late Thursday on his Truth Social platform, citing widespread public interest in UFOs and alien life.
Obama’s comments fuel public curiosity
The move follows heightened attention after former President Barack Obama suggested in a podcast that aliens are “real,” though he had not personally seen any, and none are stored in secret government facilities. Obama later clarified on Instagram that, statistically, life likely exists elsewhere in the universe, but interstellar distances make visits to Earth improbable.
Trump criticised Obama’s remarks, telling reporters that the former president “was not supposed to be doing that” and suggesting the comments bordered on classified material.
Bipartisan support for transparency
Messages of support quickly appeared on social media and from Capitol Hill. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, chair of a congressional task force on unidentified aerial phenomena, thanked Trump and expressed excitement to review footage, photos, and reports with the public.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman also praised the announcement on Fox News, calling the decision “fantastic” and saying, “America and the world deserve this.”
Scientific context and Pentagon findings
No evidence has confirmed intelligent life beyond Earth. A 2024 Pentagon report concluded that most UFO sightings involve spy planes, satellites, or weather balloons, not extraterrestrial technology. Nevertheless, Trump’s directive aims to provide transparency and satisfy public curiosity regarding unexplained aerial phenomena.
Source: Al Jazeera
Also read: Obama on aliens: “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them”
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
