Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Trump Says He Will Release Government Records About UFOs ‘Very Soon’

The image from video provided by the Department of Defense labelled Gimbal, from 2015, an unexplained object is seen at center as it is tracked as it soars high along the clouds, traveling against the wind. “There's a whole fleet of them,” one naval aviator tells another, though only one indistinct object is shown. “It's rotating." The U.S. government has been taking a hard look at unidentified flying objects, under orders from Congress, and a report summarizing what officials know is expected to come out in June 2021. (Department of Defense via AP)

President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration has begun preparing to release government records related to unidentified flying objects and unexplained aerial phenomena.

Trump said in February he would direct Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and top intelligence officials to declassify long-guarded government files on extraterrestrial life and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), including documents the Pentagon now classifies as UAPs. Speaking at the Turning Point USA event, Trump said the review process is already underway and indicated the first batch of documents will become public soon.

WATCH:

.@POTUS: I recently directed @SecWar to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena. I am pleased to report this process is well underway. We’ve found many very interesting documents — and the first releases will begin very, very soon. 👽 pic.twitter.com/kmRTUOefWX

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 17, 2026

“As you remember, I recently directed the Secretary of War to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena. And I figured this was a good crowd, because I know you people, you’re really into that. I don’t know [that] I am,” Trump said. “So I’m pleased to report today — I thought I’d save it for this crowd — because you’re a little bit out there, you know, a little bit. That this process is well underway, and we’ve found many very interesting documents, I must say, and the first releases will begin very, very soon.”

In January 2026, Republican Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri urged broader UFO transparency measures and stronger protections for whistleblowers, saying lawmakers had received clear direction to intensify oversight of unexplained aerial phenomena. Burlison said that he would withhold judgment until he personally reviewed tangible proof, including possible physical or biological material, while maintaining active interest in the investigations.

In November 2023, former defense and intelligence officials warned that delayed disclosure of UFO-related records could trigger an uncontrolled information release, as Congress advanced provisions tied to UAP transparency in the annual defense authorization process. Lawmakers from both parties simultaneously pushed for expanded public access to long-restricted government files.

In December 2020, Navy personnel recorded footage of a triangular-shaped object emerging from the ocean near a U.S. warship, prompting Pentagon officials to acknowledge they could not explain the incident. A subsequent defense review of more than 140 encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena concluded that most cases remained unresolved and required continued analysis.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Department of Defense via AP)