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Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens
| USA | general | ✓ Verified - nbcnews.com

Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens

#UFOs #Aliens #Pentagon files #Trump directive #UAP #Obama remarks #Government transparency #Extraterrestrial life

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Trump orders Pentagon to release UFO and alien files
  • Obama recently stated aliens are real but saw no evidence during presidency
  • Pentagon previously found no evidence of extraterrestrial activity in UAP reports
  • Defense Secretary Hegseth and lawmakers reacted positively to Trump's directive

📖 Full Retelling

President Donald Trump announced Thursday, February 19, 2026, that he was directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to release files related to UFOs and alien life, citing 'tremendous interest shown' by the public, following former President Barack Obama's recent comments about extraterrestrial beings. In a post on Truth Social, Trump specified that he would be instructing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and officials at relevant 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), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important matters.' Trump's directive came just hours after he accused Obama of sharing classified information when the former president stated in a podcast interview that he believed aliens were real. Obama had clarified that while he thought 'the odds are good there's life out there,' he had seen 'no evidence' of alien existence during his presidency and jokingly suggested that if aliens were being kept somewhere, it would have to be hidden from the president himself. The Pentagon previously reported following a 2024 hearing that it had received hundreds of UAP reports, with 21 meriting 'further analysis' due to 'anomalous characteristics and/or behaviors,' but ultimately found no evidence of extraterrestrial activity. In response to Trump's directive, Hegseth posted a screenshot of the president's message with alien and saluting emojis, while lawmakers from both parties reacted to the announcement, with Senator John Fetterman suggesting it could become a 'bipartisan thing' and Representative Anna Paulina Luna expressing excitement about potential future hearings on the subject.

🏷️ Themes

Government transparency, Extraterrestrial phenomena, Political responses

📚 Related People & Topics

Unidentified flying object

Unidentified flying object

Airborne entity that has not been identified or explained

An unidentified flying object (UFO) is an object or phenomenon seen in the sky but not yet identified or explained. The term was coined when United States Air Force (USAF) investigations into flying saucers found too broad a range of shapes reported to consider them all saucers or discs. UFOs are al...

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UAP

Topics referred to by the same term

UAP may refer to:

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗

Alien

Topics referred to by the same term

Alien most commonly refers to:

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗

Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Unidentified flying object:

👤 Barack Obama 3 shared
🌐 UAP 2 shared
🌐 Pentagon 2 shared
👤 White House 1 shared
🌐 Open government 1 shared
View full profile

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

Trump's directive signals a push for greater transparency on unidentified aerial phenomena, potentially reshaping public understanding of national security matters. It also reflects ongoing political debate over the handling of classified information and the role of the Pentagon in addressing public curiosity about extraterrestrial life.

Context & Background

  • Trump announced a directive to release Pentagon files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life
  • Former President Obama previously said aliens were real in a podcast interview
  • The Pentagon has received hundreds of UAP reports but found no evidence of extraterrestrial activity
  • Lawmakers reacted with calls for hearings and bipartisan interest in the issue
  • Defense Secretary Hegseth responded by acknowledging the directive

What Happens Next

The Pentagon will begin identifying and releasing relevant government files, likely sparking congressional hearings and public discussions. The process may involve reviewing classified documents and determining which information can be shared without compromising national security. Stakeholders will monitor the release for implications on policy and public trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of files will be released?

Files related to unidentified aerial phenomena, extraterrestrial life, and any other information connected to these matters will be considered for release.

Will all classified documents be made public?

Only documents that can be released without compromising national security will be made available; not all classified files will be disclosed.

How might this affect national security?

Releasing information could increase transparency but also requires careful handling to avoid revealing sensitive capabilities or intelligence methods.

Are there legal limits to what can be released?

Yes, classified information laws and national security regulations govern what can be shared with the public.

Original Source
Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens Trump's comments came hours after he claimed that former President Barack Obama shared "classified information"' when he told a podcaster recently that he believed aliens were real. President Donald Trump during a visit to Fort Bragg, N.C., on Feb. 13. Nathan Howard / Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 19, 2026, 9:13 PM EST / Updated Feb. 19, 2026, 9:45 PM EST By Raquel Coronell Uribe Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was directing agencies to release files pertaining to “alien and extraterrestrial life.” Trump wrote on Truth Social that “based on the tremendous interest shown,” he would be directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and officials at other relevant agencies “to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena , and unidentified flying objects , and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.” Trump’s announcement comes after former President Barack Obama said in a podcast interview that aliens were real, later clarifying that he meant “the odds are good there’s life out there.” Obama added in his clarification that he had seen “no evidence” of alien existence during his time in office. Obama was answering a series of questions during a "lightning round" of the podcast interview , when he was asked whether aliens were real. "They're real," Obama said, "but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in Area 51. There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States." The podcaster, Brian Tyler Cohen, then asked Obama what was the first question he had wanted answered when he took office. "Where are the aliens?" Obama responded. Trump, asked by a reporter about Ob...
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