In a surprising announcement that has captivated the public imagination, President Donald Trump stated on February 20, 2026, that he would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies to identify and disclose files pertaining to alien life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and UFOs. The move follows a surge in interest surrounding these mysterious subjects, especially after former President Barack Obama shared thoughts about extraterrestrials on a recent podcast.
Trump revealed his intentions in a post on Truth Social, citing a “tremendous interest” in the topics at hand. His plan includes releasing any and all information connected to these complex yet fascinating issues. “The order covers files related to unidentified aerial phenomena, unidentified flying objects, and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters,” he stated.
The timing of this announcement is particularly notable as it coincided with Trump’s accusations against Obama, suggesting that his predecessor had leaked classified information regarding aliens during the podcast appearance. “He took it out of classified information… He’s not supposed to be doing that,” Trump declared while traveling aboard Air Force One to Georgia.
Despite his fervor for the subject, Trump admitted that he has not actually seen evidence of alien existence, remarking, “I don’t know if they’re real or not.” This admission echoes the sentiments of Obama, who, during an interview on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, affirmed, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in Area 51.” Obama further clarified that there is “no underground facility” at Area 51 unless an enormous conspiracy was in play to hide it from all U.S. Presidents.
Area 51, notorious as a classified U.S. Air Force base in Nevada, has long been the epicenter of conspiracy theories alleging that the government harbors alien technologies and crafts within its confines. Following Obama’s podcast, he took to Instagram to express that while the universe might very well house life, during his presidency he found no evidence of extraterrestrial contact with Earth.
Pentagon’s Ongoing UAP Investigations
The Pentagon has been increasingly vigilant in monitoring UAP sightings. A recent report revealed that between May 2023 and June 2024, there were 757 new UAP sightings logged, of which 21 cases were deemed worthy of further analysis due to their “anomalous characteristics and/or behaviors.” However, the Pentagon also noted that there is currently no evidence linking these sightings to extraterrestrial life.
In 2022, senior military officials expressed their findings, stating that they had no evidence indicating that extraterrestrial beings had visited Earth or crash-landed in any capacity. Although Trump’s directive promises an intriguing glimpse into classified information, it lacks a specified timeline for the release of these documents or details on what specific files may be disclosed.
As curiosity about UAP and potential alien life continues to grow, Trump’s order may just be the start of a new chapter in humanity’s quest for answers about what lurks beyond the stars.
