WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a move that has reignited the global debate over extraterrestrial life, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, February 19, 2026, directing the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to declassify all government records related to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and “alien entities.”
The President cited “tremendous public interest” as the primary reason for the directive. However, the announcement follows a sharp verbal exchange with former President Barack Obama, whom Trump accused of mishandling classified information during a recent viral podcast appearance.
The “Classified” Feud
The controversy began after Obama’s interview on the No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen podcast, where he remarked, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them,” referring to extraterrestrials. While Obama later clarified on Instagram that he was discussing the mathematical probability of life in a vast universe rather than confirmed contact, Trump was quick to fire back.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed Obama “gave away classified information” and suggested that his own declassification order would “get [Obama] out of trouble” by making the information public. Despite his push for transparency, Trump admitted his own skepticism, stating, “I don’t know if they’re real or not.”
Scope of the Declassification
The executive order targets the Department of Defense, the CIA, and the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The President has demanded a comprehensive release of:
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UAP Intercepts: Data from military encounters with high-speed or “transmedium” objects.
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Biological Claims: Any records pertaining to non-human entities or biological specimens.
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Cover-up Allegations: Documents related to “Area 51” and rumored reverse-engineering programs.
Pentagon and Scientific Skepticism
While the President’s base and “disclosure” advocates have hailed the move as a victory for transparency, official military reports continue to lean toward “prosaic” explanations. A 2024 Pentagon assessment analyzed nearly 500 sightings, concluding that the vast majority were misidentified weather balloons, drones, or experimental surveillance craft.
AARO officials have consistently maintained that there is “no evidence” of extraterrestrial technology or visits to Earth. With Trump’s new order, the public may finally see the raw data behind these conclusions—or perhaps, as some hope, information that the Pentagon has yet to explain.
