NEED TO KNOW
The Pentagon’s new UFO website drew 340 million hits within its first 12 hours online, according to chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell
The site, which launched on Friday, May 8, contains newly declassified UFO-related materials, including videos, photos and transcripts dating back decades
President Donald Trump and administration officials said the public can review the records and draw their own conclusions as additional files are released on a rolling basis
The Pentagon’s new website on UFOs drew hundreds of millions of visitors within the first 12 hours of launching, according to chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
The site, which contains newly declassified government documents on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) — the more modern term for what were traditionally called UFOs — launched on Friday morning, May 8.
Photo featured on the Pentagon’s new UFO website
Credit: war.gov
“In just 12 hours, the site has received 340 MILLION hits from Americans and truth seekers worldwide seeking unfiltered UAP information,” Parnell wrote in an X post shared that evening.
“This overwhelming response underscores the Trump administration’s strong commitment to openness. President Trump has delivered on the public’s demand for the truth,” Parnell continued.
He added, “The Department will continue expanding this UAP transparency initiative to ensure Americans have direct access to the information they deserve.”
Photo featured on the Pentagon’s new UFO website
Credit: war.gov
President Donald Trump announced the launch of the site in a post on Truth Social, writing that the documents were for the general public’s “review and study.”
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“Whereas previous Administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject, with these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, ‘WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?’ Have Fun and Enjoy!” Trump, 79, wrote.
The Department of Defense called the release of the documents “an unprecedented, historic undertaking that requires coordination between dozens of agencies and the review of tens of millions of records, many existing only on paper, spanning many decades,” per the official site.
They added that the department will be “releasing new materials on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified,” with new information added every few weeks.
The department further stated that it encourages the public to study the files and apply their “private-sector analysis, information and expertise” to the material.
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