The administration of US President Donald Trump on Friday released a new batch of previously classified files, videos and photographs related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), describing the move as part of a broader transparency initiative on alleged extraterrestrial encounters. In a statement, the White House said the newly released material includes videos, photographs and original source documents collected from across various US government agencies under Trump’s Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) programme. According to officials, the disclosure is the first in a series of planned releases aimed at making government-held information on UFOs and UAPs publicly accessible. Apollo mission photos among released files Among the declassified material are photographs allegedly taken during the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 missions that appear to show unidentified objects in the sky above the Moon. One image reportedly captured from the lunar surface shows three bright dots in the sky. The administration also released transcripts of communications between Apollo 17 astronauts and mission control discussing unidentified particles and “angular fragments” visible outside the spacecraft windows. The release additionally includes FBI photographs from New Year’s Eve 1999 showing unidentified objects appearing alongside US aircraft. Trump cites transparency push The White House said previous administrations had discouraged public discussion around UFO-related material, while Trump was focused on “maximum transparency” and allowing Americans to draw their own conclusions from the released documents. The latest disclosure follows remarks made earlier this year by former US President Barack Obama regarding extraterrestrial life during a podcast interview, after which Trump accused Obama of revealing classified information. Days later, Trump announced plans to declassify files related to aliens, UFOs and UAPs through a post on Truth Social. US agencies back disclosure effort Several senior US officials welcomed the release, calling it an unprecedented transparency initiative. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the government was committed to providing transparency regarding unidentified aerial phenomena. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the release marked the beginning of a continuing joint declassification effort involving multiple intelligence agencies. FBI Director Kash Patel described the disclosure as the first time Americans had received “unfettered access” to declassified UAP records. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also supported the move, saying NASA would continue to study unexplained phenomena through scientific research and data analysis.
