The Trump administration has released declassified files related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), including photographs and transcripts from the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 missions. The release was described as part of the president’s transparency initiative.
Representative Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, had previously stated that the files would be released on a Tuesday and would feature encounters reported by pilots. In a social media post, Burchett wrote, "UFO files drop tomorrow. Can’t wait." He later confirmed the release included pilot encounters.
The declassified materials contain images and communications from the Apollo missions. According to the released documents, Apollo 12 astronauts reported seeing a "flashing light" and a "tumbling object" during their journey to the moon. Transcripts from Apollo 17 include references to an "orange glow" and a "strange object" observed by the crew.
President Donald Trump had previously characterized the long-awaited information as "very interesting." During a 2024 interview, he said, "I have access to a lot of things. A lot of things are happening that people don’t know about. It’s very interesting." He did not provide further details at that time.
The release follows years of growing congressional and public interest in government-held UAP records. In 2023, a House Oversight subcommittee held a hearing on the topic, where former intelligence officials testified about unexplained encounters. The newly released files are part of a broader effort mandated by legislation requiring the government to declassify certain UAP-related documents.
No left-leaning sources reported on this story. The right-leaning source Fox News highlighted the Apollo mission materials and framed the release as a fulfillment of Trump’s transparency pledge. The left-leaning source The Independent focused on the congressman’s announcement and Trump’s earlier tease, noting the anticipation surrounding the files.
The files are now available for public review. Further releases are expected as the government continues to review and declassify additional UAP records.
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