Trump Issues Executive Order for UFO Disclosure Following Obama's Extraterrestrial Remarks

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, President Donald Trump officially initiated a high-level executive directive aimed at compelling federal agencies to begin the identification and public disclosure of government records regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), and the potential for extraterrestrial life. This significant policy shift comes at a time of intense public fascination and debate, largely fueled by recent public statements from former President Barack Obama concerning the reality of non-human entities and their presence in our skies.

The President first broke the news through his Truth Social account before providing additional context to the press corps while traveling on Air Force One. The formal directive specifically orders the Secretary of War and other relevant administrative departments to begin the process of cataloging and releasing information related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects, as well as any other data points connected to these enigmatic and high-priority subjects. The implementation of this order falls under the purview of Pete Hegseth, who officially took his oath of office in September 2025 following the restoration of the historical title Secretary of War, which replaced the modern Secretary of Defense.

Trump’s executive action appears to be a direct reaction to comments made by Barack Obama, whom Trump criticized for allegedly revealing classified information. This tension arose after Obama’s appearance on a podcast hosted by Brian Tyler Cohen, where the former president remarked that aliens are real. Obama later sought to clarify his stance in a social media post on Sunday, February 16, 2026, noting that while the statistical probability of life in the universe is high, he personally encountered no evidence of extraterrestrial contact during his eight years in office. During the podcast discussion, Obama also addressed the persistent myths surrounding Area 51, stating that hiding such secrets from the Commander-in-Chief would necessitate a colossal conspiracy that is unlikely to exist.

This move by the executive branch mirrors ongoing legislative momentum in Washington aimed at increasing transparency regarding UAPs. Current efforts include the proposed UAP Disclosure Act of 2024/2026 and the UAP Transparency Act, which was formally introduced in the House of Representatives on February 11, 2025. Additionally, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 has already established requirements for more frequent and detailed briefings to Congress concerning UAP interceptions carried out by NORAD and NORTHCOM, covering events dating back to 2004.

Pete Hegseth, who held the position of the 29th Secretary of Defense from January 25, 2025, until the department's name was officially changed on September 5, 2025, is a combat veteran with service in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His leadership has already been the subject of scrutiny, particularly following a high-profile meeting of top military officials at Quantico in late 2025. As the Trump administration moves forward with this directive, many questions remain regarding the specific timeline for the release of these documents and whether the most sensitive materials will remain classified. This is especially pertinent given the long-standing position of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which continues to assert that there is no verifiable evidence of alien technology or off-world craft.