Trump orders Pentagon, federal agencies to release files on UFOs and aliens

US president’s announcement comes amid a surge of interest following comments on aliens by ex-President Barack Obama.Published On 20 Feb 2026United States President Donald Trump said he is directing federal agencies, including the defence department, to begin “identifying and releasing” government records related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and alien life forms.Trump did not specify whether classified documents would be released to the public, but added that the files should include “any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3IMF warns Venezuela’s economy and humanitarian situation is ‘quite fragile’list 2 of 3North Korea’s Kim Jong Un launches key party congress held every 5 yearslist 3 of 3US pays about $160m towards nearly $4bn in UN duesend of list“Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs),” Trump said late on Thursday in a post on his Truth Social platform.The move appears to stem from a surge in public attention following recent comments by former US President Barack Obama, who suggested in a podcast interview that aliens are “real”, but that he had not personally seen one, and none were being kept in secret government facilities.On Sunday, Obama released a statement on Instagram, clarifying what he meant by his comments, which have since gone viral.“Since it’s gotten attention let me clarify. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there,” he said.“But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!”