Trump Says He Will Release Files on Aliens and U.F.O.s
By Sudhir Choudhary
February 20, 2026
Reuters
Bloomberg.com
CBS News
Axios
Washington, D.C. — February 19, 2026: President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will direct federal agencies, including the Pentagon, to begin identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs) — a move framed in part as a response to growing public interest and recent remarks from former President Barack Obama, according to reporting by Reuters, Bloomberg, CBS News, and Axios.
Trump made the announcement in a post on his Truth Social platform late Thursday night, saying the files represent “highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.” He said the directive will task Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other relevant agency leaders with identifying and preparing documents for release.
Trump’s Announcement and Context
President Trump’s declaration came hours after he criticized Obama’s recent comment in a podcast interview suggesting aliens might be real, accusing the former president of disclosing “classified information” and saying he may “get him out of trouble by declassifying.” Trump also told reporters aboard Air Force One that he does not know whether aliens are real himself.
In his Truth Social post, Trump directed the Secretary of Defense and other agencies to “begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unexplained 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.”
He did not, however, specify a timeline for when the documents would be released or whether classified material would be made publicly available.
Government and Public Reaction
Following the announcement, Pentagon officials confirmed they had received the directive and would begin identifying relevant records, though they did not provide a schedule for release or clarify what categories of files would be declassified.
Public interest in UAPs and related phenomena surged in recent years after the Pentagon established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office and several previously classified videos of unexplained aerial objects were released. Lawmakers later held hearings on UAP sightings, citing national security and aviation safety concerns.
Critics of the president’s move called for caution, noting that large caches of government records can include sensitive national security information — and that much of what is currently publicly available already stems from earlier declassification efforts. Supporters of disclosure rights welcomed the announcement, arguing that greater transparency could build public trust.
Trump’s Intent and Background
Officials confirmed that Trump’s directive stemmed in part from mounting public curiosity and media coverage — including, in his view, inaccuracies in how past statements about extraterrestrial life have been reported.
Trump’s decision to release potential UFO-related files follows earlier government disclosure initiatives that sought to demystify some records related to unidentified aerial sightings, including military footage released by the U.S. Navy in the late 2010s. Although these efforts did not confirm extraterrestrial contact, they fueled widespread speculation and demands for further transparency.
What Is to Be Released
As of Friday morning, officials had not released a comprehensive list of files that would be made public. Analysts say that the inventory process could encompass:
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Historical UAP reports compiled by military units.
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Intelligence and radar tracking documents.
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Correspondence between agencies concerning unidentified aerial incidents.
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Internal briefings or assessments involving unidentified airborne objects.
However, it remains unclear whether the directive will affect truly classified material or only surface previously declassified portions of relevant records.
Sources
Reuters, Bloomberg, CBS News, Axios
Tags
Donald Trump, UFO Files, Extraterrestrial Life, Pentagon, UAP, U.S. Government, Transparency
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