US President Donald Trump has said he will instruct the Pentagon and federal agencies to begin identifying and releasing classified files related to aliens, extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), citing growing public curiosity about the subject.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the decision was based on the “tremendous interest” in extraterrestrial life and unexplained aerial sightings. The planned disclosures are expected to include documents on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and past government investigations.
The announcement came shortly after Trump criticised former US president Barack Obama, accusing him of discussing sensitive information while speaking publicly about aliens. Trump said he remains unsure whether extraterrestrial life exists but believes the public should have access to government records.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he did not know if aliens were real but repeated his claim that classified information should not be disclosed improperly.
Obama Remarks Fuel Speculation
Recent comments by Obama about the possibility of extraterrestrial life have reignited global interest in UFOs and alien theories. He suggested that alien life could exist somewhere in the universe from a statistical point of view, but stressed that he found no evidence of extraterrestrial contact during his presidency.
Obama also rejected long-standing conspiracy theories involving Area 51, the secret US Air Force facility often associated with alien research and UFO sightings. He said there is no hidden alien base or secret extraterrestrial programme unknown to US presidents.
A Longstanding Mystery
Aliens and UFOs have remained at the centre of public fascination for decades, driven by alleged sightings, government secrecy and popular culture.
One of the most famous cases is the alleged 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, which US authorities described as a weather balloon incident but which continues to fuel speculation about extraterrestrial encounters.
Each new disclosure about unidentified aerial phenomena tends to revive debate about whether governments possess undisclosed information about alien life.
Skepticism Persists
Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has expressed skepticism about alien claims, noting that despite advanced satellites and widespread camera use, no clear proof of extraterrestrial life has been made public.
Trump’s plan to release alien-related files could become a major transparency effort, potentially offering new insights into decades of unexplained aerial sightings — although officials continue to state that no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial contact exists.
