Donald Trump Recounts UFO Sightings Amid Government File Release

President Donald Trump recounted reports from U.S. Air Force pilots regarding encounters with unidentified flying objects during a 60 Minutes interview. Trump described a specific account from F-22 fighter jet pilots who observed a round, non-aerodynamic object traveling at three times their speed. While he stated he is "not too much of a believer," he emphasized that the pilots are credible and not conspiracy theorists.

These remarks coincide with a broader administration push for transparency. Trump previously directed federal agencies to declassify records on UFOs and extraterrestrial life, leading the Pentagon to release 162 files from the FBI, NASA, the State Department, and the Department of Defense. These documents, which include sensor data and pilot transcripts, were made available via a dedicated website and the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE).

Trump denied knowledge of any secret government program investigating unidentified craft but pledged to investigate the claim. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth supported the disclosures, stating that classified files had long fueled justified speculation. However, the initiative has faced criticism from former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who argued that the focus on UFOs serves as a distraction from domestic issues such as fuel prices and the Jeffrey Epstein case.