The US Department of Defense has released the first batch of its UFO files at the direction of President Donald Trump, who promised to make them public "based on the tremendous interest shown". Nearly half of Americans believe aliens have visited Earth, and many suspect the government is withholding evidence.
The release follows decades of conspiracy theories dating back to the 1947 Roswell incident, when an army airfield issued a news release about the crash of a "flying disc". It also serves Trump's political agenda, allowing him to either claim vindication if proof of aliens emerges, or blame the "deep state" for hiding information from the president.
Senior officials have expressed interest in the phenomenon. Vice-president JD Vance said he has an "obsession" with UFOs but believes their pilots are demons, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested in a documentary that the government could be in possession of alien technology.
However, the released files so far contain underwhelming material, including unsubstantiated close encounters and grainy images and videos. Online sleuths have debunked several recordings: one star-shaped UFO is almost certainly a flare attached to a parachute, and a red orb weaving between wind turbines is likely a red balloon.
Analysts note that UFO belief is deeply rooted in post-war American culture, shaped by fear, scandal and a sense of vulnerability. Even prominent enthusiasts appear influenced by imagination and emotion rather than evidence, leaving the latest release unlikely to satisfy conspiracy theorists.
