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Trump Orders Pentagon and Defense Secretary to Release UFO Files, NASA Reaffirms Open‑Science Policy

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  • WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Obama initially commented on the subject as part of a quickfire round of questions on a podcast
    Obama initially commented on the subject as part of a quickfire round of questions on a podcast
    Image: BBC
    Obama initially commented on the subject as part of a quickfire round of questions on a podcast (Reuters) Source Full size
  • WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: U.S. President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President will attend the annual meeting of the Group of 7 nations, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are taking place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and will run until late Tuesday. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: U.S. President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President will attend the annual meeting of the Group of 7 nations, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are taking place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and will run until late Tuesday. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: U.S. President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President will attend the annual meeting of the Group of 7 nations, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are taking place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and will run until late Tuesday. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Obama initially commented on the subject as part of a quickfire round of questions on a podcast
    Obama initially commented on the subject as part of a quickfire round of questions on a podcast
    Image: BBC
    Obama initially commented on the subject as part of a quickfire round of questions on a podcast (Reuters) Source Full size
  • WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech after touring the Coosa Steel Corporation factory in Rome, Georgia, February 19, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One before taking off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 19, 2026. Trump is travelling to Rome, Georgia to visit local businesses and give remarks about the economy at a steel factory. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: U.S. President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President will attend the annual meeting of the Group of 7 nations, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are taking place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and will run until late Tuesday. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: U.S. President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President will attend the annual meeting of the Group of 7 nations, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are taking place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and will run until late Tuesday. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: U.S. President Donald Trump stops and talks to the media before he boards Marine One on the South Lawn at the White House on June 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President will attend the annual meeting of the Group of 7 nations, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are taking place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, and will run until late Tuesday. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Source Full size

Trump Directs Agencies to Locate and Publish UFO Records On 19 February 2026 President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he will direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the “Secretary of War” to identify and release all government files on unidentified aerial phenomena, UFOs and extraterrestrial life, citing “tremendous interest” from the public. The directive also echoes Rep. Nancy Mace’s October request for full DoD, CIA, NSA and DNI disclosure. Multiple outlets note the order applies to the Pentagon and other agencies [1][2][4][5].

Obama’s Alien Comments Prompt Trump Criticism and Clarifications Former President Barack Obama told podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen that “they’re real” but later clarified on Instagram that while life elsewhere is statistically likely, he saw no evidence of alien contact and denied any Area 51 involvement. Trump labeled the remarks a “big mistake,” accusing Obama of leaking classified information and defending his own lack of a stance on alien existence. The exchange has dominated media coverage across the week [1][2][3][6][8].

Pentagon’s AARO Reports Thousands of UAP Cases, No Extraterrestrial Evidence The Department of Defense’s All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office reported 1,652 UAP reports through 2024, with an earlier June 2024 unclassified report documenting 485 cases, most of which were identified as balloons, drones, birds or debris. The office publicly stated it has found no verifiable evidence of alien technology, though director Jon Kosloski acknowledged a handful of incidents remain “inexplicable” and require further data. These findings align with the 2024 Pentagon assessment that found “no evidence” of extraterrestrial encounters [1][2][3][4][5].

NASA Stresses Open‑Science Commitment Amid UFO Disclosure Push NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens reiterated the agency’s open‑science policy, confirming that all NASA data remain publicly accessible and that recent unexplained observations are tied to program costs rather than alien activity. The agency’s stance comes as a 2021 Pew Research Center survey shows 65 % of Americans believe intelligent life likely exists elsewhere, underscoring the public’s sustained curiosity. [1][7]

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Primary Data (1)

Pew: Most Americans believe in intelligent life beyond Earth; few see UFOs as a major national security threat

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Timeline

2017 – The Pentagon launches a secret program to collect pilot reports of strange aerial objects, sparking renewed public curiosity and later prompting congressional UFO hearings[1][8].

2021 – A Pew Research Center survey finds 65 % of Americans believe intelligent extraterrestrial life likely exists, underscoring widespread interest in UFO topics[4][6].

2021 – Former President Barack Obama jokes in a James Corden interview about a secret lab holding alien specimens, later saying the answer was “no,” hinting at his long‑standing public engagement with the UFO subject[2].

May 2022 – Congress holds its first UFO hearings in 50 years, prompting the establishment of a dedicated military office for anomalous aerial phenomena[1][8].

July 2022 – The Department of Defense creates the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to centralize and analyze UAP reports from all services[8].

July 2023 – A House hearing labels UAPs a national‑security concern, featuring veterans warning of secrecy and urging greater transparency[3].

June 2024 – The Pentagon’s AARO releases an unclassified report documenting 1,652 UAP cases through 2024, concluding there is “no evidence” of alien life and attributing many sightings to balloons, drones, birds, or debris[3].

June 2024 – A separate congressional report lists 485 military UFO reports, identifies 118 as mundane objects, and reiterates that AARO finds no verifiable extraterrestrial evidence[8].

2024 – AARO director Jon Kosloski says some incidents remain “interesting” and beyond current physics and engineering understanding, calling for more data[3].

2024 – President Donald Trump tells Joe Rogan and Fox News he has received UFO briefings but remains “not a believer,” describing the Roswell incident as “very interesting” while acknowledging “anything is possible”[5].

Feb 16 2026 – Obama posts on Instagram that while the universe is vast, the probability of Earth being visited by extraterrestrials is low and he saw no evidence during his 2009‑17 tenure, clarifying his earlier podcast remark “They’re real but I haven’t seen them”[2].

Feb 16 2026 – Online rumors claim Trump will announce a historic UFO disclosure speech on July 8 2026 (the 79th anniversary of Roswell) and hold a press conference on May 1 2026, though Newsweek finds no verification[7].

Feb 19 2026 – In a Fox News interview, Trump calls Obama’s alien comment “a big mistake” and accuses him of leaking classified information, while Obama reiterates that extraterrestrials are real but not hidden at Area 51[6].

Feb 19 2026 – Trump announces via social media that he directs the Pentagon and other agencies to locate and disclose all UFO, UAP, and alien‑related records, citing “tremendous interest” from the public[8].

Feb 20 2026 – Aboard Air Force One, Trump says, “I don’t know if they’re real or not,” and hints he may declassify material concerning Obama’s remarks, while acknowledging the public’s demand for transparency[3][8].

Feb 20 2026 – Trump orders Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the “Secretary of War” to identify and publish any government files on UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and related phenomena[5].

Feb 20 2026 – Trump directs multiple agencies to begin identifying and releasing alien‑related records, reiterating his earlier Truth Social post and emphasizing the need for openness[1].

Feb 20 2026 – Trump reiterates criticism of Obama, saying the former president “disclosed classified information” about aliens and calling it a “big mistake” while maintaining his own uncertainty[6].

Feb 21 2026 – NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens affirms the agency’s open‑science policy, notes that recent unexplained findings relate to costly programs rather than extraterrestrials, and welcomes public participation in data sharing[4].

May 1 2026 (planned) – A press conference is rumored to be scheduled for Trump to address UFO disclosure, though the White House has not confirmed the event[7].

July 8 2026 (planned) – Trump is rumored to deliver a historic speech on UFOs on the 79th anniversary of the Roswell incident, aligning with the alleged “right time” for disclosure[7].

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