US President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies, including the Pentagon, to begin identifying and releasing government records related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and possible extraterrestrial life, saying public interest in the subject is “tremendous”.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he wanted agencies to share “any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters”. He did not specify whether classified documents would be made public, or when any files might be released.
The announcement followed recent remarks by former President Barack Obama, who said in a podcast interview that, given the size of the universe, it was statistically likely that life exists elsewhere, though he stressed he had seen no evidence of contact.
Trump criticised those comments, suggesting Obama may have revealed sensitive information, but offered no proof.
There is currently no confirmed evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life or that any government holds proof of alien contact. A Pentagon office that tracks UAPs reported in 2024 that most sightings could be explained by conventional objects or phenomena.
Reactions to Trump’s directive were mixed. Some lawmakers who have long called for greater transparency welcomed the move, while sceptics noted that sheer public curiosity rather than new evidence seems to be driving the push for disclosure.
