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

Al Jazeera

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies, including the Pentagon, to begin identifying and releasing government records related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), alien life forms, and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). This move comes amid heightened public interest following recent remarks by former President Barack Obama, who suggested in a podcast that aliens are "real" but emphasized that he had no personal evidence of their existence or secret government detention. Trump’s announcement, made on his Truth Social platform, aims to address the surge in curiosity and speculation surrounding these topics. The directive does not specify whether classified documents will be made public, though Trump stressed that all relevant information should be included. This decision appears to align with growing bipartisan support for greater transparency regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial life. For instance, Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who chairs a congressional task force on UAP, expressed gratitude for Trump’s action, stating her eagerness to review the released materials alongside the public. Similarly, Democratic Senator John Fetterman praised the decision as “fantastic,” calling it a step toward accountability and transparency. Despite the lack of concrete evidence supporting the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life, the Pentagon’s 2024 report concluded that most UFO sightings were attributable to known phenomena like spy planes or weather balloons. Nevertheless, Trump’s announcement has sparked widespread excitement, with supporters hailing it as a significant step toward addressing long-standing mysteries and fostering public trust in government accountability. This shift in policy could have far-reaching implications for global discussions on UFOs, science, and the limits of human knowledge.

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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/20/2026