Donald Trump made a shocking revelation at a recent speaking event, abruptly announcing that he has instructed Pete Hegseth to release government UFO files. 

The president headlined a Turning Point USA event on Friday at a megachurch in Phoenix, Arizona, where he defended his record in office to a slew of young conservative voters. 

The event is the latest stop in the TPUSA tour across America, where top conservatives are attempting to bolster support for their party among young voters. 

During his remarks, Trump boasted about his Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, revealing that the Pentagon would soon release documents relating to UFOs and 'unexplained aerial phenomena.' 

'I figured this was a good crowd because you people - you're really into that. I don't know. So I'm pleased to report today, I thought I'd save it for this crowd, because you're a little bit out there, that this process is well underway,' he joked. 

'We found many very interesting documents, I must say. And the first releases will begin very, very soon. So you can go out and see if that phenomena is correct. You'll figure it out. Let me know.' 

A War Department official confirmed to the Daily Mail that the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is working with the White House to consolidate existing UAP records collections. 

'Since the office was established, AARO has made progress to make UAP information available and transfer those records to the National Archives in accordance with federal law,' the official said in a statement. 

'We welcome the president's initiative to supercharge these efforts and make more UAP information available to the public as soon as possible.'

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Task Force sent a letter to Hegseth in March, requesting video files related to Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) by April 14. 

The letter followed hearings by the House task force in September, where whistleblowers testified that the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), a section of the Department of War, possessed video records of UAPs.

'The lack of disclosure regarding the very real threat posed by UAPs in and around US restricted airspace is concerning,' House representatives wrote. 

'The presence of UAPs in and around the sensitive airspaces of US military installations poses a threat to the security of the armed forces and their readiness.'

The letter requested over 45 video files dating back to 2019, including footage of 'cigar-shaped' and 'spherical' UAPs. 

Some clips reportedly captured UAP formations near Iran and Syria, incidents near US bases and airports, and even a 2023 shootdown over Lake Huron. 

A video file reportedly revealing UFOs in formation over the Persian Gulf was also requested. 

Trump wrote on Truth Social in February that he would be directing Hegseth to begin identifying and releasing UFO-related files. 

'Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters,' he said at the time. 

Hegseth later told reporters that his department was 'digging in' to the files and would be in compliance with the president's orders. 

Former President Barack Obama also hinted at classified UFO information during a podcast interview at the time. 

When asked if aliens were real, he responded: 'They're real, but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in ... Area 51. 

'There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.' 

Trump blasted Obama for the remarks, telling reporters that the former president 'took it out of classified information,' adding, 'He's not supposed to be doing that.'

The Pentagon has previously investigated UFO and UAP activity. In 2022, senior defense officials at the AARO announced that they had found no evidence that aliens had ever visited Earth. 

The AARO released a report in 2024, concluding that most UFO sightings were misidentified as ordinary objects and there was no evidence of extraterrestrial technology since the end of World War II. 

Despite earlier reports, it seems the federal government has continued to ramp up investigations, with the federal domain aliens.gov suddenly showing signs of activity. 

The site has now returned as an SSL error, a technical signal that the address may be connected to a live server but is not yet fully configured for public access.

The government has a long history of investigating UFOs. Starting in 1974, the US Air Force launched Project Blue Book, which cataloged over 12,000 UFO sightings. 

The project concluded in 1969 after officials determined there was no evidence of UFOs from other planets.

US Senator Harry Reid started to take an interest in UFOs in 1995, pushing the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program in 2007. 

Since then, there have been a slew of sightings investigated by federal authorities, including a near-collision off the Florida coast between Navy pilots and unidentified craft in 2014. 

The White House has also announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into a string of missing scientists. 

'In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and the Pentagon for comment.