‘Very interesting’ UFO files coming? Trump teases big reveal

Washington: US president Donald Trump has once again stirred intrigue around UFOs, claiming the Pentagon is preparing to release “very interesting” files uncovered during his administration.

The remarks have triggered a mix of excitement and scepticism, with many wondering if long-standing questions about extraterrestrial life could finally see new answers.

Trump first reignited interest in February, directing federal agencies to release records related to alien life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and UFOs. Since then, he has continued to build suspense with periodic hints about what lies ahead. “We're going to be releasing a lot of things that we haven't,” Trump said Wednesday at a White House event celebrating NASA astronauts. “I think some of it's going to be very interesting to people.”

Positioning himself as a champion of transparency, Trump drew parallels with earlier declassification efforts, including files on the assassinations of John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Those disclosures, however, revealed little new. Even so, Trump maintained that “the American people deserve transparency and truth,” repeating a similar message while promising fresh revelations on UFOs.

“The first releases will begin very, very soon,” he told supporters in April at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix. “So you can go out and see if that phenomenon is correct. You'll figure it out.”

Despite the buildup, experts have urged caution. The Pentagon has already been working for years to declassify UFO-related material, now referred to as UAP. A 2024 report by the government’s investigative office documented hundreds of sightings but found no evidence of alien technology. Another report is expected soon.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office is currently coordinating with the White House to release what it described as “never-before-seen UAP information.” However, its former director Sean Kirkpatrick dismissed expectations of major revelations.

“Readers should not get their hopes up that there's going to be some document with photos, interviewing the aliens when they came down,” he said. “Because that just doesn't exist.”

Kirkpatrick added that many viral UFO videos have mundane explanations. According to him, advanced infrared cameras used by the US military often capture heat signatures that can appear unusual, leading to misinterpretations.

Meanwhile, a group of Republican lawmakers aligned with Trump has raised concerns that the Pentagon may still be withholding critical information. A congressional task force has been examining reports of unidentified objects near US military installations, citing potential national security risks.

Testimonies before the panel included accounts from service members, such as a Navy officer who described seeing a glowing “Tic Tac” shaped object emerging from the ocean and rapidly disappearing.

Trump’s renewed focus on UFOs has energised figures like Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who has criticised what she calls inadequate transparency. After Trump’s directive, she said the Pentagon “can't hide from our docs request anymore!”

Vice President JD Vance has also expressed keen interest in the subject. “I've still got three more years as vice president,” he said. “I will get to the bottom of the UFO files.” He added that he believes such sightings may be linked to spiritual phenomena rather than extraterrestrial beings.

Trump himself, however, struck a more cautious tone. Speaking in Phoenix, he said, “I figured this was a good crowd because I know you people, you're really into that. I don't know if I am.”

The fascination with UFOs continues to extend beyond politics. Hollywood has revived the theme with an upcoming Disclosure Day, while former President Barack Obama recently remarked that “the odds are good there's life out there,” though he clarified he had seen no direct evidence.

The US government has been probing UFO sightings since the 1940s, often to determine whether they represent advanced foreign technology or something beyond current understanding. Yet, for many enthusiasts, past promises of revelations have often fallen short.

“There is almost no satisfaction that is possible for many of the really die-hard folks,” said Greg Eghigian, a historian of UFO sightings. “So in a sense, I think disappointment can almost be guaranteed to be expected no matter what comes out of this.”