Overview
Online chatter has surged this week with claims that former President Donald Trump is preparing to make a public announcement on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). The speculation, which began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and several fringe forums on Monday, has been amplified by meme‑style graphics that quote an alleged “secret briefing” and promise a “historic disclosure” at a forthcoming rally. Newsweek’s verification team found no corroborating evidence from credible sources, and both the White House and the former president’s office have declined to comment on the rumors.
Origin of the Rumors
The earliest post identified by researchers appears to be a retweeted screenshot of a purported internal memo dated February 12, 2026, in which a “senior aide” allegedly informs Trump’s campaign staff that “the Department of Defense will release new UAP findings next week.” The image was accompanied by the hashtag #TrumpUFO and quickly amassed thousands of likes and shares. Within hours, similar posts surfaced on Reddit’s r/conspiracy and Facebook groups dedicated to “government transparency.” None of the accounts posting the memo have verifiable histories; several were created within the past month and lack any prior political or journalistic activity.
Official Responses
When contacted, a spokesperson for the White House Press Office said, “The administration has not received any request from former President Trump or his team to comment on UAP matters, and we have no announcement pending.” The statement mirrors a standard response used in past inquiries about unverified claims. Likewise, a senior official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the agency’s 2023 UAP report—the most comprehensive assessment to date—remains the latest official release and that no additional briefings are scheduled for public dissemination in the immediate future.
The Former President’s campaign also declined to comment, directing inquiries to the White House. No press release, tweet, or scheduled event has been found on the official Trump website or affiliated social‑media channels that references a UFO disclosure.
Context: Recent UAP Developments
The renewed interest in UAPs follows the Pentagon’s 2023 unclassified report, which acknowledged 144 incidents of unexplained aerial observations and called for “enhanced data collection and analysis.” While the document stopped short of confirming extraterrestrial origins, it marked a shift toward greater transparency, prompting congressional hearings in 2024 and a modest increase in public funding for UAP research.
Former President Trump has a mixed record on the subject. In 2020, he ordered the UAP Task Force to be established, and during his 2024 campaign he occasionally hinted at “secret information” that could “change the world.” However, he never provided concrete details, and his statements were generally dismissed by defense officials as political posturing.
Public Reaction and Media Coverage
The rumor mill has reignited a broader conversation about government disclosure. Polls conducted by the Pew Research Center in late 2025 showed that 62 % of Americans believe the government is withholding information about UFOs, a figure that has risen steadily since the 2023 report. Social‑media analytics indicate a spike of roughly 35 % in searches for “Trump UFO” and “UAP disclosure” over the past 48 hours.
Mainstream outlets, including CNN, BBC, and The New York Times, have published brief fact‑checks noting the lack of verifiable sources. Experts such as Dr. Michael S. Salla, a former UAP analyst for the Department of Defense, caution that “the pattern we’re seeing—unverified documents, rapid meme propagation, and official silence—is typical of misinformation cycles that thrive on public curiosity.”
What We Know So Far
At this stage, the rumors remain unsubstantiated. No official statement, press conference, or scheduled event confirms that Donald Trump intends to address UFOs or UAPs publicly. The White House and relevant intelligence agencies have reiterated that the only recent official UAP communication is the 2023 report and subsequent congressional hearings. While the public’s appetite for answers persists, the current evidence points to a social‑media hoax rather than an imminent government disclosure.
Readers are encouraged to treat sensational claims with skepticism and to rely on verified statements from government officials and reputable news organizations for updates on this evolving topic.
