Trump Directs Review And Possible Release Of UFO Files
Trump directed agencies to begin identifying and releasing government files on UFOs after former President Obama said he believes aliens are real.
Overview
President Donald Trump directed the Defense Department and other federal agencies to begin identifying and releasing government files on UFOs and "alien and extraterrestrial life," he said on Truth Social.
The directive followed comments by former President Barack Obama on a podcast saying he believes aliens are real and Trump's accusation that Obama disclosed classified information.
Sean Kirkpatrick, the first director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, said Obama "said nothing classified" and that he expects any release will contain "no new revelations."
An 18-page unclassified report submitted to Congress in June 2024 said service members made 485 reports of unidentified phenomena in the past year and that 118 cases were found to be prosaic objects.
The directive did not specify which files would be declassified or when, and officials said the selection, review and possible release of materials could take weeks, months or even years.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story skeptically and institutionally, foregrounding official findings and procedural context. Editorial choices—language like "wild theories", cautious qualifiers, and placement—underscore skepticism; source content (Trump/Obama quotes and AARO's 2024 "no evidence" finding) supplies factual context while marginalizing sensational speculation.
Sources (16)
FAQ
Trump's directive followed former President Barack Obama's podcast comments claiming aliens are real, which Trump accused of disclosing classified information, amid strong public interest.
Officials indicated that the selection, review, and possible release of UFO files could take weeks, months, or even years, with no specific timeline announced.
A June 2024 unclassified report noted 485 reports of unidentified phenomena by service members, with 118 cases identified as prosaic objects; prior reports found no evidence of alien visits.
Sean Kirkpatrick, former director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, stated that Obama's comments revealed nothing classified and expects any release to contain no new revelations.
Experts highlight airspace vulnerabilities, such as untracked drones over bases like Langley, emphasizing needs for better detection, identification, and destigmatization of UAP reporting for safety.
History
- 13 sources
