The Trump administration has released more than 160 files relating to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), including dozens of photos purporting to show the UFOs on Earth and the Moon shared by various government entities.
Announcing the release, President Donald Trump said he had directed relevant departments to release the material “based on the tremendous interest shown.” The documents include a number of reported sightings of unidentified objects in the sky, including photos shared by the FBI, NASA, and the Department of War.
“President Donald Trump directed the Department of War to identify and release government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects because he is the most transparent president in history,” White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly told Newsweek.
“While past administrations have sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, the President is focused on providing maximum disclosure to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files. The American people asked, and President Donald Trump delivered—enjoy!”
What Photos Were Released?
The photos were mostly included within three large clusters: a late 2025 event that took place in the Western U.S. documented by the FBI, Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972 documented by NASA, and a late 2025 event that took place at an undisclosed location documented by the FBI.
Also included within the release was a Department of War photo taken on an unknown date in Iraq and a composite sketch of a 2023 incident shared by the FBI.
Numerous videos and previously classified documents, such as mission reports, emails, and incident summaries, were also included within the release.
FBI Incident: Late 2025 in the Western U.S.
One of the largest clusters of photos comes from the FBI. The photos were taken in late 2025 in the western U.S, according to the file release.
Many of the photos are nearly identical, taken only seconds apart according to the timestamp, all of the photos were taken between 6:10 and 6:22 p.m. local time.
However, the date on the timestamp depicts a date of December 31, 1999, whereas the UFO release files claim the event happened in late 2025. Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon and the FBI by email for comment on this.
The images were derived from a U.S. military system, according to the report.
FBI Incident: Late 2025 at Unspecified Location
The FBI shared another cluster of photos also from late 2025, although the location was not disclosed. There are eight photos in this cluster.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of a still image derived from a U.S. government system,” the release said about this cluster of photos. “The date and location of the event have not been provided.”
FBI Composite Sketch: September 2023 in the U.S.
The composite sketch shows an image of “apparent ellipsoid bronze metallic object materializing out of a bright light in the sky” overlaid on an actual site photo taken in the United States, according to witness reports from September 2023. The object was 130 to 195 feet in length and was said to have disappeared “instantaneously.”
After the eyewitness saw the UAP, a storm allegedly hit that night, according to files. The TV went out in his hotel room.
“He was still freaked out and went downstairs to make sure all the TVs were out in the hotel and not just his. [Redacted] had weird dreams and had trouble sleeping for the first two nights after he saw the object,” a report included with the release said.
Apollo Missions: Photos from the Moon
Numerous reports were shared by NASA regarding unexplained lights and shapes spotted during Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972.
The 1969 images are of the lunar sky in which several colored shapes or bright dots are visible.
There is one 1972 image, in which three “dots” are visible in the lunar sky. The photo was taken from the moon and shared by NASA.
“While this photo has been previously released and discussed by keen observers, there is no consensus about the nature of the anomaly,” the release file summary said. “New preliminary U.S. government analysis suggests the image feature is potentially the result of a physical object in the scene.”
Iraq Image from May 2022
“The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of a still image derived from a U.S. military system in 2022,” the release file said. “The original reporter digitally altered the imagery by adding a red line encircling an area of interest before submitting it to AARO. An accompanying mission report, DoW-UAP-D12, described the UAP as moving from north to northeast. The operator reported that they were unable to positively identify the UAP.”
What Else Was Included in the UFO Files Release?
In addition to the photos, dozens of videos were included within the release, many of which show unidentified objects darting across the screen, and more than 100 PDFs.
UFO Files: Where Were Reports Made?
Several countries were mentioned within the first UFO files release. They are highlighted in a map created by Newsweek shown below. This is not an all-encompassing location list, as some files didn’t disclose a location, some occurred in space, and others indicated a vague location, such as the Pacific Ocean or the Strait of Hormuz.
What Happens Next: When Will More UFO Files Be Released?
More files are coming, but it’s unclear when.
“This is an unprecedented, historic undertaking that requires coordination between dozens of agencies and the review of tens of millions of records, many existing only on paper, spanning many decades,” the Department of War said on its UFO release website. “Given the scope of this task, the Department of War will be releasing new materials on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified, with tranches posted every few weeks.”
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