President Donald Trump has officially directed federal agencies to begin “identifying and releasing” government records related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life, a move that follows a week of viral debate sparked by former President Barack Obama.

In a Truth Social post late Thursday, Trump cited “tremendous interest” as the reason for the directive, which specifically names the Secretary of War and other relevant agencies.

The decision appears to be a direct reaction to recent comments by Barack Obama. During a podcast interview, Obama remarked that aliens are “real,” though he later clarified on Instagram that he saw no evidence of extraterrestrial contact or secret government facilities during his presidency.

Trump, speaking from Air Force One, criticized the former president, suggesting his remarks potentially compromised classified information. “He made a big mistake,” Trump said, adding that his own declassification order might “get [Obama] out of trouble” by making the information public.

Highlights of the Directive

• Broad Scope: The order covers alien life, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), and UFOs.
• Agency Compliance: The Department of Defense and other intelligence agencies are tasked with a comprehensive search for “any and all” relevant information.
• Bipartisan Support: Lawmakers from both sides have praised the move. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) thanked the President for investigating these “highly complex” matters, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called the move “fantastic.”

What We Know

Despite the excitement, the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) released a report in 2024 stating that most sightings are misidentified spy planes, drones, or weather balloons. To date, no evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth has been officially confirmed.

The move marks a significant shift in government transparency regarding the “worst-kept secret in American history,” as agencies now scramble to audit decades of classified records for public consumption.