Trump releases declassified UAP files including Apollo mission photos
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A FIRST ON FOX — The Trump administration on Friday released a series of “never-before-seen” files and videos about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP) as part of an effort to increase transparency on the government’s knowledge of extraterrestrial phenomena.
“The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from the entire United States government are all in one place; no permission is required. While past administrations have sought to discredit or deter the American people, President Trump is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, and the public can ultimately make up its own mind about the information in these files,” the White House said in a statement to Fox News. he said.
The release is a function of President Donald Trump’s Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) program.
The photos in the initial statement, which a White House official told Fox News was the first in a series of releases, show oddly shaped objects captured on film during the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 space missions.
A photo taken from the surface of the moon shows a cluster of three small dots in the sky.
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A photo from the Apollo 17 moon landing, highlighting three points in the sky as seen from the lunar surface. (Ministry of War)
A transcript of communications between Apollo 17 operators, released Friday, details the operators’ exchange of ideas about the unknown incident.
“We now have a few very bright particles or pieces or something that drift as we maneuver,” an operator told the command center.
“Understood. Understand,” the center replied.
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“There’s a bunch of big windows in my window downstairs – just bright. It looks like the 4th of July out of Ron’s window,” another operator added.
The first operator said, “Yes. You can now see the shape of some of them. These are very pointed pieces with rounded corners.”
Another pair of photos in the release comes from the FBI and includes images from New Year’s Eve 1999 showing other UAPs in the same view as US aircraft.
An FBI photo containing two black dots that appear to be UAP (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
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In February, after former President Barack Obama told a podcaster that aliens were real, Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy directly asked Trump about the existence of aliens.
Trump said about Obama: “He gave classified information. He shouldn’t have done that.” “I don’t know if these are real or not. I can tell you this, he gave classified information. He shouldn’t have done that; he made a big mistake. He took it out of classified information.”
Days later, Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he would declassify files on the matter.
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“Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will direct the Secretary of War and other appropriate Departments and Agencies to begin the process of identifying and publishing alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and all other information connected with these extremely complex, but extremely interesting and important topics. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” wrote.
Multiple agency heads commented on the release, calling it an unprecedented step in terms of transparency.
“The War Department is aligning with President Trump to provide unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Events,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
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“Hidden behind classifications, these files have long fueled justified speculation – and now it is time for the American people to see for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s serious commitment to unprecedented transparency.”
“The American people have long sought transparency regarding the government’s knowledge of unidentified anomalous events,” said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. he added.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is actively coordinating the Intelligence Community’s declassification efforts with the War Department to provide a careful, comprehensive, and unprecedented review of our assets to provide maximum transparency to the American people. Today’s announcement is the first in an ongoing joint declassification and declassification effort.”
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FBI Director Kash Patel added: “The FBI is proud to stand with President Trump and our interagency partners on this landmark release of UAP records. For the first time in history, the American people have unrestricted access to declassified government files on the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon, a level of transparency no previous administration has provided. The FBI remains committed to supporting this continued declassification effort with the same rigor and integrity we bring to every national security matter. As these files continue to be reviewed and released, the American people “They can be assured that their safety will continue to be our top priority.”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also got involved. “I appreciate President Trump’s whole-of-government effort to provide the American people with greater transparency about unidentified anomalous events,” Isaacman said.
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“At NASA, our mission is to bring together the brightest minds and the most advanced scientific instruments to track the data and share what we learn. We will remain candid about everything we know to be true, everything we don’t yet understand, and everything that remains to be discovered. Discovery and the pursuit of knowledge are at the core of NASA’s mission as we seek to unlock the mysteries of the universe.”
Many UAP files will be available at WAR.GOV/UFO.
