Trump Directs Government to Release Files on UFOs and Extraterrestrials

President says he doesn't know if aliens are real but wants more transparency on the topic.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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President Donald Trump announced that he is directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Trump said he is doing this because of "tremendous interest" in the topic, though he personally doesn't have an opinion on whether aliens are real. The renewed public interest in UFOs comes after the Pentagon created a new office in 2022 to collect reports of military UFO encounters.

Why it matters

The release of government files on UFOs and extraterrestrials could shed more light on a topic that has long been shrouded in mystery and speculation. While officials have said they have found no evidence of extraterrestrial activity, the public remains fascinated by the possibility of alien life. Trump's directive could increase transparency around what the government knows, or doesn't know, about UFOs.

The details

Trump's announcement came shortly after former President Barack Obama suggested in a podcast interview that aliens were real, though he said he had not seen evidence they have made contact. Trump accused Obama of disclosing "classified information" and said he may "get him out of trouble by declassifying" files on the topic. The renewed public interest in UFOs stems from the Pentagon creating the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in 2022 to centralize reporting of military UFO encounters. However, the government has said it has found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or activity.

  • In May 2022, Congress held the first hearings on UFOs in 50 years.
  • In July 2022, the Pentagon created the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to collect reports of military UFO encounters.
  • In 2023, the head of AARO said the office had not found any evidence of 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 extraterrestrials.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States who recently suggested in a podcast interview that aliens were real, though he said he had not seen evidence they have made contact.

Sean Kirkpatrick

The former head of the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) who said the office had not found any evidence of reverse engineering of extraterrestrial technology.

All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)

A Pentagon office created in 2022 to centralize reporting of military UFO encounters.

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What they’re saying

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

— Donald Trump (abc7ny.com)

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

— Barack Obama (abc7ny.com)

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

— Sean Kirkpatrick, Former Head of AARO (abc7ny.com)

What’s next

The government agencies directed by Trump to release files on UFOs and extraterrestrials will need to identify and declassify any relevant information, which could take time.

The takeaway

Trump's directive to release more information on UFOs and extraterrestrials reflects the ongoing public fascination with the possibility of alien life, even as the government has said it has found no evidence to support such claims. The release of these files could increase transparency, but is unlikely to definitively prove or disprove the existence of extraterrestrials.