U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will instruct federal agencies to identify and begin the process of releasing government documents related to aliens, extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and UFOs.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said institutions including the U.S. Department of Defense — United States Department of Defense — would be directed to “locate and initiate the release process” for relevant files. The announcement has reignited long-standing public interest in government transparency surrounding unexplained aerial sightings.

Trump’s remarks came days after former President Barack Obama addressed alien-related conspiracy theories during a podcast appearance on February 14. Obama dismissed claims that extraterrestrials were being held at Area 51 in Nevada, stating that during his presidency he had seen “absolutely no evidence” of alien contact with humanity.

Responding to Obama’s comments, Trump criticized the former president, saying, “He shouldn’t have done that. It was a big mistake.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked whether he personally believes in the existence of aliens. “I don’t know if they’re real,” he replied.

How the UFO Debate Gained Momentum in the U.S.

Public debate over UFOs and UAPs intensified in 2017 when reports surfaced about a previously undisclosed Pentagon program that collected and analyzed testimonies from military personnel regarding unexplained aerial incidents.

In 2020, the Pentagon officially released three Navy videos that had previously leaked in 2007 and 2017. One of the recordings, captured in 2004, showed a fast-moving spherical object over the Pacific Ocean. Two additional videos from 2015 depicted airborne objects maneuvering in ways pilots described as unusual. At the time, the Defense Department stated that releasing the footage did not compromise any sensitive systems and confirmed that the objects remained classified as “unidentified.”

In 2022, the U.S. Congress held its first public hearing on UFOs in more than 50 years, pledging greater transparency. Lawmakers also supported the creation of a dedicated office to collect and assess all reports of unidentified aerial phenomena involving the armed forces.

However, a 2024 Pentagon report concluded that there was no evidence the U.S. government had encountered extraterrestrial life. According to the findings, most UFO sightings could be attributed to conventional aircraft, balloons, or natural atmospheric phenomena.

While Obama noted in his podcast interview that the vastness of the universe makes extraterrestrial life statistically plausible, he reiterated that no proof had emerged during his time in office.

Trump’s new directive has once again raised questions about whether additional undisclosed materials exist — and whether the public will finally gain broader access to decades of classified UFO-related