Donald Trump announces impending release of government UFO records

During a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 18, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the discovery of "interesting" documents within government archives regarding unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Trump stated that these records will be released to the public shortly to allow for independent assessment of the phenomena. This development follows an official directive issued by the president in February 2026, which mandated that federal agencies begin declassifying files related to UFOs and the potential for extraterrestrial life. The administration cited strong public interest as the primary driver for this initiative. According to some reports, the review process was initiated after Trump criticized former President Barack Obama for allegedly disclosing classified information regarding extraterrestrials in a previous interview. The government's goal is to provide transparency on the existence of these phenomena.