US4 min(s) read
Published 14:52 08 May 2026 GMT
The Trump administration has released a new collection of previously unseen files, videos and photographs connected to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), connected to UFO sightings.
The move is part of a wider effort to increase public access to information surrounding extraterrestrial activity.
In a statement to Fox News, the White House said: “The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place – no clearance required.”
The administration also contrasted the move with previous governments, adding: “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 disclosures were released through President Donald Trump’s Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters, known as the PURSUE program.
Among the newly published material are photographs allegedly taken during the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 lunar missions, showing unusual objects in the sky.
One image captured from the moon’s surface appears to display three small bright dots hovering overhead. The release also included transcripts from Apollo 17 communications discussing the unexplained sighting.
“Now we've got a few very bright particles or fragments or something that go drifting by as we maneuver,” one operator reportedly told mission control.
“Roger. Understand,” the command center responded.
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.”
The first operator later described the objects further, saying: “Yes. Now you can see some of them in shape. They're very jagged, angular fragments that are tumbling.”
Additional images released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly show unidentified aerial objects appearing near U.S. aircraft during New Year’s Eve celebrations in 1999.
Earlier this year, Trump addressed the topic after Barack Obama commented during a podcast interview that aliens were real.
When asked about the remarks by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, Trump criticized Obama for discussing the subject publicly.
“He gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that,” Trump said. “I don’t know if they’re real or not. I can tell you, he gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that – he made a big mistake.”
Days later, Trump announced plans to release government files tied to UFOs and extraterrestrial life through a post on Truth Social.
“Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs),” he wrote.
He added that the files concern “highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”
Several senior officials praised the release as a major transparency initiative.
Pete Hegseth said: “The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.”
He also described the records as documents that “have long fueled justified speculation.”
Kash Patel also praised the move, stating: “For the first time in history, the American people have unfettered access to declassified government files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon — a level of transparency that no prior administration has delivered.”
Meanwhile, Jared Isaacman said the agency would continue pursuing scientific answers.
“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,” Isaacman said.
He concluded: “We will remain candid about what we know to be true, what we have yet to understand, and all that remains to be discovered. Exploration and the pursuit of knowledge are core to NASA’s mission as we endeavor to unlock the secrets of the universe.”
The once-classified information can now be viewed on the U.S. Department of War website.
