Trump Directs Release of Government Files on Aliens and UFOs
US President Donald Trump announced that he will instruct US agencies, including the Department of Defense, to "begin the process of identifying and releasing" government documents related to aliens and extraterrestrial life.
Trump made this statement in a post on Truth Social following his earlier accusation against former President Barack Obama. Trump claimed Obama disclosed classified information when he stated "aliens are real" during a podcast last week.
"He's not supposed to be doing that," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding: "He made a big mistake."
When asked if he believes in the existence of aliens, Trump responded,
"Well, I don't know if they're real or not."
Obama’s Comments on Extraterrestrial Life
Former US President Barack Obama told podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen in an interview released last Saturday that he believes aliens are real.
"They're real, but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in Area 51," Obama said.
"There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States."
Following widespread media attention, Obama clarified his remarks, emphasizing that he considers it statistically likely that life exists beyond Earth due to the vastness of the universe.
"I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!" Obama stated in a follow-up Instagram post.
Obama’s initial comments were part of a rapid-fire "lightning" round of questions during the podcast. There was no indication that he referenced classified information during the interview. The BBC has reached out to Obama for further comment. Obama, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, have a history of political rivalry.
Trump’s Position and Subsequent Announcement
On Thursday aboard Air Force One, Trump acknowledged that many people believe in aliens but said he rarely discusses the topic and does not hold a firm opinion on it.
"While a lot of people believe in the existence of aliens, I never talk about it, and I don't have an opinion on it," Trump said.
Later that day, Trump posted on Truth Social that due to the "tremendous interest shown," he will pursue the release of files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any other relevant information.
"Based on the tremendous interest shown" he will seek the release of files "related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters."
Renewed Public Interest in UFOs and Government Transparency
Public interest in UFOs and extraterrestrial life in the US has increased notably in recent years. This resurgence was sparked in 2017 by reports revealing a secret Pentagon program that investigated accounts from pilots and other military personnel who reported sightings of unusual objects in the sky.
In 2022, the US Congress held its first hearings on UFOs in 50 years. The Pentagon committed to greater transparency on the subject and established a dedicated office to collect reports of military encounters with UFOs.
The following year, a US House of Representatives panel investigating the topic did not uncover any significant revelations or confirmation of alien life. In a 2024 report, the Pentagon stated there was "no evidence" that the US government had encountered extraterrestrial life and that most UFO sightings were attributable to ordinary objects.
