Donald Trump has ordered the release of hundreds of never-before-seen classified files relating to unidentified flying objects, including footage of a triangular-shaped UFO and testimonies from US citizens recounting close encounters. Among the disclosures is a picture from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 showing three dots in a triangular formation, believed by analysts to be a physical object floating in the sky.
First Tranche of 169 Items Released
A total of 169 items have been released in the initial batch, including State Department cables, FBI documents, and NASA transcripts of crewed space flights. One report from the US Department of War details a drone pilot who claimed to have experienced 'weird dreams' and struggled to sleep after spotting an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP) in September 2023. The pilot described seeing an object for five to ten seconds, smaller than a Boeing 737 and about the length of 'one or two Blackhawk helicopters,' flying at around 5,000 feet. He added that the suspected UFO sighting preceded a storm that caused outages to all TVs in his hotel.
Apollo Missions and Other Sightings
The crew of Apollo 11, which delivered the first astronauts to the moon in 1969, reported three unusual sightings: an object on their way to the moon, flashes of light inside the cabin, and a bright light on the return trip assumed to be a laser. A transcript from Gemini 7 reveals a conversation about a 'bogey' or unknown aircraft and a debris field; astronauts James 'Jim' Lovell and Frank Borman claimed they saw 'very, very many hundreds of little particles' within four miles of their spacecraft. Another document from October 2001 notes that Georgia accused Russia of violating its airspace and bombing the Kodori Gorge, but Russia denied the allegations, suggesting the attack could have been the work of UFOs.
Images released include one from 2024 showing a football-shaped object with three projections. Despite these sightings, a 2024 report found no evidence that any government confirmed recognition of alien technology. Congress ordered the Pentagon to disclose files in 2022 after military officials reported encounters with unknown aircraft, and additional documents will be released on a rolling basis.
Officials Comment on Transparency
FBI Director Kash Patel stated: 'The FBI is proud to stand alongside President Trump and our interagency partners in this landmark release of UAP records. 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. The FBI remains committed to supporting this rolling declassification effort with the same rigor and integrity we bring to every national security matter.'
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the release ensures 'maximum transparency,' adding: 'Today's release is the first in what will be an ongoing joint declassification and release effort.' On Truth Social, Trump wrote: 'In an effort for complete and maximum transparency, it was my honour to direct my administration to identify and provide government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects. Whereas previous administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject, with these new documents and videos, the people can decide for themselves, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Have fun and enjoy!'
