Trump Administration Releases First Wave of Declassified UFO Files

Key Facts

Published: May 9, 2026 Location: Washington D.C. Source: US Department of War

• Trump administration released first wave of formerly classified UFO and UAP documents
• More than 160 files include astronaut transcripts, military reports, and unexplained sightings
• VP JD Vance previously said he once believed aliens could be “demons”

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – The Trump administration on Friday released the first batch of formerly classified government documents, videos, and photographs related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), opening decades of mysterious military and government reports to public scrutiny.

The files were published through a new transparency initiative called PURSUE, following an order by President Donald Trump directing agencies to declassify records tied to “extraterrestrial life, anomalous phenomena and unidentified objects.” Trump criticized previous administrations for secrecy surrounding the issue, saying Americans should now be able to decide for themselves “what the hell is going on here?”

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the material had “been hidden behind classifications for too long” and that public disclosure was long overdue.

The initial release includes more than 160 files from the Pentagon, FBI, NASA, State Department, and other agencies. Among them are Apollo-era astronaut transcripts, military reports, witness testimonies, and photographs, including an Apollo 17 image showing three unidentified objects in triangular formation. Other documents describe sightings near U.S. military operations in Iraq, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Greece, including reports of objects making sudden sharp turns and unusual maneuvers.

One FBI report details a 2023 account from a drone operator who described seeing a glowing “linear object” that appeared for several seconds before vanishing.

The Pentagon cautioned that many of the reports remain unresolved and that descriptions reflect witness interpretations rather than confirmed conclusions. Officials stressed that additional documents will be released gradually over the coming weeks.

The disclosure also revived comments made earlier this year by Vice President JD Vance, who said during a podcast interview that he once believed aliens could actually be “demons,” reflecting growing public fascination with the spiritual and unexplained dimensions of the phenomenon.

Congressional supporters of UFO transparency welcomed the release, while experts warned that some sightings may ultimately be explained by advanced military technology, optical distortions, or incomplete data. Still, the administration’s move has thrust one of America’s longest-running mysteries back into the national spotlight.

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