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Donald Trump

President of the United States who has made repeated public comments on UFOs and UAP, including remarks at a 2026-08-11 cabinet meeting and the signing of an executive order on UFO-related declassification.

President of the United States

Donald Trump is a businessman and politician who served as President of the United States and has repeatedly commented in public on UFOs and UAP, both before and during his time in office. During the 2016 United States presidential election, he invited Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s missing emails at a press conference in Florida1, and went on to defeat her in that November’s vote2. According to Jason Samosa, Clinton had been doing well against Trump during the campaign and was promising to release information about UFOs3, and Samosa has said that a non-state intelligence network was responsible for leaking emails from the hack of John Podesta, a leak he describes as decisive in putting Trump into office and keeping Clinton out4. Later in 2016, Trump expressed scepticism about UFO reports, answering “Not particularly” when asked whether he believed people who say they have seen one5.

Trump’s public remarks on the subject have recurred at intervals since. According to In Plain Sight, he commented on the Roswell incident (1947) in a 2020-06 interview with his son Don Trump Jr.6, in which he said he would not discuss what he knows about it but that it is “very interesting”7, and separately said he had heard “interesting” things about the incident8, as recorded in ‘Trump Says He’s Heard Interesting Things about Roswell’ (AP article) and the 2020-06 Donald Trump interview on the Roswell incident. Trump also described newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-era 2020-04 Pentagon release of three Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) videos footage as “a hell of a video”9. According to Journalist Leaked UAP Program “Immaculate Constellation” - DEBRIEFED ep. 10, Trump said on a talk show that several airline pilots came to his office to discuss spheres flying around their jets10, and one pilot reportedly told him a round object was travelling four times faster than his F-22 Raptor11.

Within his own administration, James Mattis accepted the position of Secretary of Defense under Trump12 before resigning in 2019-01 over differences with the administration13. National Security Council staff under Jay Stratton requested briefings that resulted in Trump being briefed on UAP to some level14. Jason Samosa has stated that Trump attended Fordham University15 and became controller of Resorts International in the mid-1970s for about a year16; Jesse Michels has said he does not believe Trump thinks deeply about UFOs but finds the Resorts International connection worth investigating17. The Disappearance of William Neal McCasland occurred days after Trump announced there would be some form of UFO disclosure, according to Jason Samosa18. Jesse Michels has separately said Trump stated in a recent podcast appearance that aliens are real, without the interviewer following up19. Jonathan Caplan has said he does not believe Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) disclosure is coming through Trump’s presidency20, though he has also said full disclosure - including crash retrievals, legacy programmes and biologics - is not on the table, while Trump may allow acknowledgement that some video or craft is anomalous21. Jesse Mitchells has said he wants Trump to release Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) documents because the resulting shift would move the Overton window and open the subject to academic study22.

According to Phil McGraw, some people controlling UFO-related information treat the President as a temporary employee not given full candour23, a characterisation Ross Coulthart has echoed, saying people inside the government’s UFO cover-up have told him the same24. McGraw has stated that Trump signed an executive order to declassify and disclose UFO-related information to the American public25. On 2026-08-11, Trump made remarks about releasing extraterrestrial information at a 2026-08-11 Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting remarks on extraterrestrials, seated with Marco Rubio on one side26; according to Coulthart, Trump said the administration is releasing a lot of information on extraterrestrial matters and that people are fascinated by it27. Coulthart has said that, in the week of that episode, the President used the word “extraterrestrial”28, and has separately said this marks the first time a US president has publicly discussed potentially disclosing on the phenomenon29. Coulthart considers the declassification initiative a positive sign, saying it is clear the released files could have come out much earlier30, though he does not expect Trump to make a significant disclosure, considering him intimidated by the national security state31. McGraw has said the degraded quality of releases does not originate with Trump but results from the material being garbled once it enters the bureaucracy32, and has stated he has discussed UAP with Trump, Stephen Miller, Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna33.

David Charles Grusch has said he is worried that, absent a historical document preservation hold from Trump, information on the UAP recovery programme is presently being destroyed34, and has said mishandling UAP disclosure would damage Trump’s legacy35. Grusch has also said he knows what Trump was briefed on during his previous term and what Rubio was briefed on regarding UAP36, and that he hopes Trump delivers on his promise regarding disclosure37.

  1. Trump invited Russia to find Hillary Clinton's missing emails at a Florida press conference
    “on 28 July 2016, no one could quite believe what Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said at a press conference in Florida. The candidate invited Russia to hack his rival Hillary Clinton's email account. 'Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,' he said. 'I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.'”
    In Plain Sight ch20:1938-2309 View the source record →
  2. Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election to Trump
    “But . . . to everyone’s shock and surprise, Hillary loses the election in November 2016.”
    In Plain Sight ch20:23537-23620 View the source record →
  3. During the 2016 election Hillary Clinton was doing very well and promising to release UFO information
    “you go back to the 2016 election, you've got Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton's doing very well and is promising to release information about UFOs and try and pull the lid off of things.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 01:44:22.6-01:44:31.3
  4. A non-state intelligence network leaked the Podesta emails, decisive in putting Trump into office
    “According to Semivan a non-state intelligence network is responsible for the leaking of these emails, which were pretty decisive in forcing Trump in and Clinton out.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 01:44:32.3-01:44:43.4
  5. Trump expressed scepticism about UFO sightings, saying 'Not particularly' when asked if he believed people who report seeing them
    “‘People are saying they’re seeing UFOs. Do I believe it?’ the president said. ‘Not particularly.’”
    In Plain Sight ch20:23765-23847 View the source record →
  6. Trump made a comment about the Roswell incident in an interview with his son Don Trump Jr.
    “In June 2020, President Donald Trump made an intriguing comment about the mythical 1947 Roswell, New Mexico, UFO crash in a cosy interview with his son Don junior.”
    In Plain Sight ch28:25830-25986 View the source record →
  7. Trump said he would not talk about what he knows about Roswell, but that it is very interesting
    “Trump responded, 'I won't talk to you about what I know about it, but it's very interesting.'”
    In Plain Sight ch28:26151-26231 View the source record →
  8. Trump described the released Pentagon UFO footage as 'a hell of a video'
    “Devan Cole, 'Trump Calls Newly released UFO Footage a "Hell of a Video"', CNN, 30 April 2020.”
    In Plain Sight ch34:40062-40150 View the source record →
  9. Trump said he has heard 'interesting' things about the Roswell incident
    “Aamer Madhani/AP, 'Trump Says He's Heard "Interesting" Things about Roswell', MilitaryTimes.com, 19 June 2020.”
    In Plain Sight ch34:66515-66620 View the source record →
  10. Former President Trump said on a talk show that several airline pilots came into his office to speak about spheres flying around jets
    “recently, former President Donald Trump was on a talk show and had mentioned that he had several airline pilots come into his office at that time speak about these spheres.”
    Journalist Leaked UAP Program "Immaculate Constellation" - DEBRIEFED ep. 10 00:03:55.3-00:04:07.2
  11. A pilot told Trump a round object was travelling four times faster than his F-22 Raptor
    “They said, all I know, sir, is there was a round object that was going four times faster than my F-22, which is a very fast plane.”
    Journalist Leaked UAP Program "Immaculate Constellation" - DEBRIEFED ep. 10 00:04:15.5-00:04:21.5
  12. James Mattis accepted the position of Secretary of Defense in the incoming Trump administration
    “I was working in the Pentagon building with Mad Dog himself, who had accepted the position of secretary of defense in the incoming Trump administration.”
    Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch25:21603-21740 View the source record →
  13. Mattis resigned as Secretary of Defense in January 2019 due to differences with the Trump administration
    “Mattis resigned his post in January 2019 due to differences with the Trump administration and went on to suffer the ignominy of being mocked on social media.”
    Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch30:6249-6400 View the source record →
  14. Jay Stratton received NSC briefing requests and briefed Trump on some level regarding UAP
    “We were making enough noise in the press that Jay was getting requests for briefings from members of the White House National Security Council, who then briefed Trump on some level, but I am not sure how much information they actually shared.”
    Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs ch31:15556-15791 View the source record →
  15. Trump attended Fordham University
    “I was seeing he attended Fordham University.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 02:29:02.4-02:29:03.7
  16. Trump became the controller of Resorts International in the mid-1970s for about a year
    “who becomes the controller of Resorts International in the mid seventies?... Donald Trump... For a brief period, he was the guy basically in charge of it for a year or so, whilst this private intelligence network is presumably still being run.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 01:43:49.5-01:44:02.5
  17. Jesse Michels believes Trump is not thinking deeply about UFOs, but finds the Resorts International connection fascinating
    “And same with Trump... if there's anything going on there, the resort's international thing. That's fascinating. And I want to look into that. But, like, my gut on that guy is he's not thinking deeply about UFOs, you know?”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 02:30:01.0-02:30:12.5
  18. McCasland disappeared days after Trump announced there would be some form of UFO disclosure
    “Days after Trump announced that there was gonna be some sort of disclosure.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 01:16:39.5-01:16:42.0
  19. In a recent podcast appearance Trump said aliens are real, and the interviewer did not follow up
    “he sort of provoked Trump in many ways and said, you know, it's not like they're, you know, aliens are real. But like, how do you know that, sir? You know, the interviewer never followed up on that. But he said they are real.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:51:45.4-00:51:57.5
  20. Jonathan Caplan does not believe UAP disclosure is coming through Trump's presidency
    “I do not believe, as some do, that disclosure is coming through President Trump's.”
    Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 01:25:52.0-01:25:56.9
  21. Caplan considers full disclosure not on the table, though Trump may allow acknowledgement that some video or craft is anomalous
    “as far as the three-letter agencies are concerned, as long as you keep that to saying, well, all right, this video is anomalous or this craft is anomalous, that's fine. We'll live with an anomalous phenomenon, but we're not going any further. We are not gonna hear about crash craft. We're not gonna hear about legacy programs. We're not gonna hear about biologics.”
    Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 01:26:40.9-01:27:03.7
  22. Jesse Michels wants Trump to release UFO documents to shift the Overton window
    “it'll move The Overton Window and, you know, you'll have young people able to ask these questions. You know, these things can be taught in academic settings. All of those things would be amazing second order effects of Trump releasing documents.”
    The UFO Cover-Up Leads to One Secret Society — and One Final Event 00:31:29.2-00:31:40.9
  23. Phil McGraw says those controlling UFO information treat the President as a temporary employee not given full candour
    “I think some of the people that are in control of this information kind of treat the president of the United States as though he's a temp employee... I'm not sure how candid some of the people in control of this information are with the boss, with the president of the United States”
    Dr. Phil read the UAP files before the public, here's what he found | Reality Check 00:07:47.2-00:08:07.8
  24. Ross Coulthart says people inside the cover-up regard the President as a temporary employee
    “I mean, I think there has been times where people I've spoken to inside this cover up have told me the president is regarded as a temporary employee.”
    Dr. Phil read the UAP files before the public, here's what he found | Reality Check 00:08:14.4-00:08:25.2
  25. Trump signed an executive order to declassify and disclose UFO-related information
    “his executive order about this was very clear to declassify this information and disclose it to the American public.”
    Dr. Phil read the UAP files before the public, here's what he found | Reality Check 00:09:15.4-00:09:23.3
  26. Trump made his remarks about releasing extraterrestrial information at a cabinet meeting with Marco Rubio seated on one side
    “He was in a cabinet conference, cabinet meeting, and with Marco Rubio on one side and Pete Hegseth on the other.”
    Ross Coulthart Answers Your Biggest UAP Questions | Reality Check with Ross Coulthart 00:00:38.0-00:00:44.0
  27. Trump said the administration is releasing a lot of information on extraterrestrial things and people are fascinated
    “The president said, we're releasing a lot of information having to do with extraterrestrial, terrestrial things. And people are totally fascinated by it.”
    Ross Coulthart Answers Your Biggest UAP Questions | Reality Check with Ross Coulthart 00:00:49.1-00:01:00.5
  28. In the week of the episode, the President of the United States used the word extraterrestrial
    “in a week when we've had the president use the ET word, that's quite something.”
    Ross Coulthart Answers Your Biggest UAP Questions | Reality Check with Ross Coulthart 00:35:30.9-00:35:35.9
  29. Phil McGraw believes the degraded releases are not coming from Trump but become garbled in the bureaucracy
    “So I'm concerned about the intention. I don't think it's coming from President Trump. I think he intends for there to be transparency here, but I think when it gets into the bureaucratic apparatus, it's getting garbled.”
    David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:29:40.3-00:29:56.3
  30. Coulthart considers the initiative a positive sign, and says the files could have been released much earlier
    “it is a positive sign, and it's to be applauded that the president has shown such initiative on releasing and declassifying UAP files that, frankly, when you look at them, there's absolutely no reason, it's quite clear now, there's no reason why they couldn't have been released a lot earlier than today.”
    Ross Coulthart Answers Your Biggest UAP Questions | Reality Check with Ross Coulthart 00:01:34.2-00:01:52.1
  31. Grusch knows what Trump was briefed on during his previous term and what Rubio was briefed on regarding UAP
    “however you know i certainly know what the president was briefed on in his previous you know term and certainly what know Secretary Rubio was briefed on as well”
    David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:45:15.2-00:45:24.6
  32. David Grusch is worried UAP recovery programme information is being destroyed absent a preservation hold from Trump
    “I do worry if President Trump hasn't provided a either classified or otherwise, you know, historical document preservation notice hold, that a lot of the information on the UAP recovery program is being destroyed as we speak, akin to MKUltra in the 70s.”
    David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:09:25.3-00:09:42.4
  33. Grusch considers mishandling UAP disclosure would damage Trump's legacy
    “And I hope he understands how this will impact President Trump's legacy if this is botched.”
    David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:27:51.5-00:27:56.7
  34. Phil McGraw has discussed UAP with Trump, Stephen Miller, Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna
    “And I've discussed this with the president. I've discussed it with Stephen Miller. I've discussed it with Representative Burchard and Luna.”
    David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:47:40.5-00:47:51.0
  35. Grusch hopes Trump delivers on his promise regarding UAP disclosure
    “i really hope that President Trump uh delivers on his promise”
    David Grusch: The Whistleblower Who Told Congress We're Not Alone 00:51:07.8-00:51:10.9
  36. Coulthart considers this the first time a US president has publicly talked about potentially disclosing on the phenomenon
    “I'm fascinated that we're at a moment in history right now where a president for the first time is talking publicly about potentially disclosing.”
    Whitley Strieber Reveals What 40 Years of Encounters Taught Him | Reality Check Rewind 00:42:18.0-00:42:28.0
  37. Coulthart does not expect a significant disclosure, considering Trump intimidated by the national security state
    “i don't think he's going to Whitley i think he's going to wimp it i think he's intimidated by the national security state and he's probably going to give us a few blurry videos and give something for congress to get excited about but i don't think we're going to see any significant disclosure”
    Whitley Strieber Reveals What 40 Years of Encounters Taught Him | Reality Check Rewind 00:54:01.0-00:54:14.9

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