Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government transparency. The newly declassified documents, photos, and videos were published on Friday as part of what officials described as an effort to provide “unprecedented transparency” to the American public.

The release includes around 160 files covering decades of alleged UFO sightings and unexplained aerial encounters. Among the most discussed records are reports linked to NASA’s Apollo missions, including grainy lunar surface images captured during Apollo 12 in 1969 and transcripts from Apollo 17 astronauts describing mysterious objects seen near the moon in 1972.

According to mission transcripts, Apollo 17 pilot Ronald Evans reported seeing “very bright particles or fragments” drifting near the spacecraft during maneuvers. While the material has fueled public curiosity about extraterrestrial life, analysts and researchers said the files do not offer definitive proof of alien technology.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the records had remained classified for years, contributing to widespread speculation. Trump also commented on the disclosure, encouraging Americans to review the materials and “decide for themselves” what the unexplained sightings may represent.

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb noted that the files confirm the U.S. government has gathered significant data on UAP incidents, although natural explanations remain possible. Some experts suggested that the lunar images could be linked to asteroid impacts rather than alien activity.

Critics, however, argued the UFO disclosures may be diverting attention from ongoing political controversies surrounding the Trump administration, including military tensions with Iran and renewed scrutiny over Jeffrey Epstein-related files.

Despite skepticism, UFO researchers believe the latest release signals that additional classified UAP records may soon become public, keeping interest in government UFO investigations and extraterrestrial theories alive.