Trump Directs Government to Release Files on UFOs and Extraterrestrial Life

Former president claims 'tremendous interest' in the topic despite saying he doesn't know if aliens are real.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Former President Donald Trump announced that he is directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials, UFOs, and unidentified aerial phenomena. Trump's directive comes after former President Barack Obama recently suggested in a podcast interview that aliens were real, which Trump accused Obama of disclosing 'classified information' about.

Why it matters

The renewed public interest in unidentified flying objects and the possibility of extraterrestrial life has led to increased scrutiny and congressional hearings on the topic in recent years. Trump's directive could shed more light on what the government knows about these phenomena, though officials have previously stated they have found no evidence of extraterrestrial activity.

The details

Trump told reporters that he is ordering the release of files related to 'alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).' This comes after Obama suggested in a podcast that aliens are real, which Trump accused Obama of disclosing 'classified information' about. The Pentagon has previously created an office to collect reports of military UFO encounters, but has said it has found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or activity.

  • On February 20, 2026, Trump announced he is directing the government to release files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
  • In 2022, Congress held the first hearings on UFOs in 50 years.
  • In 2023, the head of the Pentagon's UFO office said they had found no evidence of any reverse engineering of extraterrestrial technology.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is directing government agencies to release files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

Barack Obama

The former president of the United States who recently suggested in a podcast interview that aliens were real, which Trump accused him of disclosing 'classified information' about.

Sean Kirkpatrick

The former head of the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), who said in 2023 that the office had found no evidence of any program to reverse engineer extraterrestrial technology.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know if they're real or not.”

— Donald Trump (WMTW)

“Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there's life out there.”

— Barack Obama (WMTW)

“To date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology.”

— Sean Kirkpatrick, Former Head of AARO (WMTW)

What’s next

The government agencies directed by Trump to release files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life will likely begin the process of identifying and declassifying relevant documents in the coming months.

The takeaway

Trump's directive to release more information on UFOs and extraterrestrial life reflects the continued public fascination with the topic, despite a lack of conclusive evidence of alien activity. The move could provide more transparency, but officials have previously stated they have found no proof of extraterrestrial technology or beings.