Trump hails UFO file release as act of transparency

U.S. President Donald Trump has praised his administration’s release of declassified UFO and UAP files, saying Americans can now judge the material for themselves after years of government secrecy.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said his administration had delivered on a promise to provide “Complete and Maximum Transparency” regarding unidentified aerial phenomena and alleged extraterrestrial-related records, Caliber.Az reports. 

“As for my promise to you, the Department of War has released the first tranche of the UFO/UAP files to the Public for their review and study,” Trump wrote. He said previous administrations had failed to be transparent on the issue and added that with the newly released documents and videos, “the people can decide for themselves, ‘WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?’”

Trump described the release as an honour for his administration and said the files included government material related to “Alien and Extraterrestrial Life, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, and Unidentified Flying Objects.”

The comments came after the Pentagon on May 8 launched a dedicated online portal containing declassified records related to encounters between the U.S. military and unidentified aerial phenomena. The first batch included 162 files, primarily pilot testimonies describing UFO sightings over the United States.

The initial release mainly consists of written testimonies from military pilots describing UFO sightings over the United States. The documents, some dating back decades, were declassified and published online following Trump’s earlier pledge to release the files due to what he called “tremendous interest” from the public.

According to U.S. officials, the declassification effort involved several federal agencies, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Energy, the FBI, and NASA.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the administration aimed to provide unprecedented transparency regarding what the government knows about unidentified anomalous phenomena.

"The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency," Hegseth said.

Officials said Americans can now access the files instantly through the new government portal, although authorities cautioned that much of the released material has not yet been fully analyzed to determine whether any genuine anomalies exist.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the release marked the beginning of an ongoing declassification process coordinated across the U.S. intelligence community and the Department of War.

“The American people have long sought transparency about the government's knowledge of unidentified anomalous phenomena,” Gabbard said, describing the initiative as an “unprecedented review” intended to provide maximum transparency.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the release gave Americans “unfettered access” to declassified UAP records for the first time, while emphasizing that national security would remain a priority as additional files are reviewed and released.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also welcomed the initiative, saying the agency would continue to “follow the data” and remain open about what is known and still unexplained regarding unidentified phenomena.

By Sabina Mammadli