Trump-era UFO files finally released: What they reveal about extraterrestrial life

The wait over the release of highly-awaiting UFO files has finally come to end. On Friday, the Trump administration released a batch of “never-before-seen” files and videos on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP).

The move is framed as a “maximum transparency” effort on the government's knowledge of extraterrestrial life through a new program titled PURSUE (Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters).

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According to the White House Statement as reported by Fox News, “"The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place – no clearance required.”

“While past administrations sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, President Trump is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files.”

The entire collection of images can be found on the war.gov website under the category 'UFO'.

Key revelations

The disclosure of batch 1 files includes photos and transcripts from Apollo 12 and Apollo 17. Transcripts also reveal astronauts describing “jagged angular fragments” and bright particles that appeared to be “tumbling” outside their windows.

“Now we've got a few very bright particles or fragments or something that go drifting by as we maneuver," an operator told the command center.

Another operator added, “There's a whole bunch of big ones on my window down there - just bright. It looks like the Fourth of July out of Ron's window.”

"Yes. Now you can see some of them in shape. They're very jagged, angular fragments that are tumbling," the first operator said.

The UFO files also highlight FBI photos from New Year’s Eve 1999, demonstrating UAPs in the same airspace as the US aircraft.

The move to release files follows a public back-and-forth where Trump criticized former President Obama for allegedly revealing classified information about aliens during a podcast interview.

Leadership responses

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated, “The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency…these files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves.”

FBI director Kash Patel called unrestricted access “landmark” and historic. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that NASA will follow the data to "unlock the secrets of the universe."

“At NASA, our job is to bring the brightest minds and most advanced scientific instruments to bear, follow the data, and share what we learn. We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered,” Isaacman said.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that the Intelligence Community is conducting a "comprehensive" review of its holdings.

A large batch of UAP files is available at WAR.GOV/UFO. The White House confirmed that this is only the "first of a series" of rolling declassifications intended for the public to "make up their own minds."