President Donald Trump announced on February 19, 2026, that he would release long-secret government files related to UFOs (unidentified flying objects) and possible extraterrestrial life.
The statement on his Truth Social platform signals new transparency on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), meaning unexplained observations in the sky, an issue that has drawn Washington’s attention for years.
Trump orders review of UFO records
In his social media post, Trump said he would instruct the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to begin identifying and releasing documents tied to unexplained sightings and alleged alien encounters.
“Based on the tremendous interest shown,” he wrote on Truth Social, “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), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
“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… pic.twitter.com/3fKQ7wrSvi
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 20, 2026
The Department of Defense, headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, has overseen several investigations into UAP in recent years. The directive could lead to the declassification of materials that have remained sealed for decades.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the message on the social platform X, calling the announcement “OUT OF THIS WORLD NEWS.”