The Artemis II crew smirked as President Donald Trump fielded questions about his long-awaited UFO files during their visit to the White House on Wednesday.
Standing behind the President in the Oval Office, the four astronauts listened as reporters pressed Trump on when Americans might finally see the highly anticipated government records.
Trump had invited the crew, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, to celebrate their historic journey around the moon earlier this month, praising them as heroes of a mission that marked a major milestone in NASA’s return to deep space.
The moment took an unexpected turn when questions shifted from spaceflight to unidentified flying objects, drawing visible reactions from the astronauts as Trump began discussing the long-awaited disclosure.
When asked about his promised UFO disclosure, Trump suggested that long-awaited files could soon be made public.
'I think we will be releasing as much as we can in the near future,' the president replied. 'For some reason, and I guess it's just a reason, it's been in the minds of people for a long time. They want to find out about the UFOs and anything having to do with UFOs or related material.'
Trump first announced the planned disclosure in February, ordering the Pentagon to release all government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrials.
However, months later, Americans have yet to see a single document or video from the promised release, fueling growing curiosity about what the files may reveal.
Standing just behind the president in the Oval Office on Wednesday, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, appeared amused as reporters pressed Trump on when Americans might finally see the highly anticipated government records
'I think it is going to be interesting to some people,' Trump added.
'I have interviewed people, my first term primarily, I interviewed some pilots. Very solid people, and they said they saw things that you wouldn't believe.'
The astronauts remained composed behind him as he spoke, though their subtle smiles and suppressed laughter added a light moment to an otherwise serious discussion about government transparency and unidentified aerial phenomena.
'You're going to be reading about it,' Trump said, hinting that new details could soon be released to the public.
The president looked at NASA Administrator Jared Issacman during the discussion, who quietly said 'yes, Mr President' and nodded his head to Trump's statement about the public wanting to know the truth about UFOs.
Trump gave the order for disclosure just hours after he lashed out at Barack Obama for allegedly sharing classified information when he appeared to confirm that aliens exist while speaking on a podcast.
'Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War... 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)' Trump wrote on Truth Social in February.
Lawmakers and defense officials have in recent months renewed calls for greater transparency surrounding decades of classified material tied to unexplained aerial sightings.
Trump ordered UFO disclosure in February, but Americans have yet to see a single document or video from the promised release, fueling growing curiosity about what the files may reveal
Trump has gone quiet about his plans to release government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life. However, the war with Iran began shortly after he announced it in February. But other government officials have not forgotten.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna penned a letter to the US Secretary of Defense on April 1, ordering Pete Hegseth to deliver 46 specific clips no later than April 14.
Lawmakers said the videos could reveal patterns of activity near sensitive military sites and help determine whether the objects pose a potential national security threat.
The requested footage includes dozens of military-recorded encounters showing spherical, cigar-shaped and Tic Tac-like objects spotted over war zones, oceans and sensitive airspace around the world.
Luna, however, said on April 14 on X that 'no one from the Pentagon had responded until we reached out, and it appears that someone did not pass the letter to the appropriate authorities.'
'How convenient,' the Florida representative added, noting that while she considers Hegseth a friend and supporter of President Trump, 'the president has authorized the release, so whoever is trying to be cute at the Pentagon can take a hike.'