Pentagon releases dozens of UFO files Trump teased as ‘very interesting’

The Pentagon released 162 declassified files on Friday covering UFO sightings from nearly 80 years ago, two days after President Trump urged transparency on the topic. The disclosure follows a February 2025 executive order demanding records on 'unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)' and extraterrestrial life be made public. The files were part of an ongoing Pentagon effort to declassify documents related to UAP, now referred to as 'unexplained anomalous phenomena.' Sean Kirkpatrick, a physicist and former director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), confirmed the records contain no groundbreaking revelations. He dismissed expectations of alien encounters, noting no documents include photos or interviews with extraterrestrials. Kirkpatrick explained that viral videos of high-speed, pill-shaped objects often stem from infrared camera distortions capturing jet engines or other heat sources. Despite this, some Republican officials remain skeptical. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) previously claimed to have seen evidence of 'interdimensional beings,' accusing the Pentagon of insufficient transparency. Vice President JD Vance has also expressed strong interest, stating he is 'obsessed' with the UFO files and intends to investigate Area 51 during his remaining term. AARO’s 2024 report identified hundreds of new UAP incidents but found no confirmed alien technology. Trump’s directive aligns with his earlier order to release records on the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., which revealed little new information. The Pentagon’s latest release reflects ongoing efforts to address public curiosity while maintaining scientific rigor.