Donald Trump said Air Force pilots told him they saw a round, unidentified object pass an F-22 fighter jet at three times the aircraft’s speed. The president described himself as skeptical of UFO claims but said the pilots were credible and had reported unusual encounters. He also said he would investigate allegations that a secret government UFO program could operate without presidential knowledge. His comments came weeks after the Pentagon released declassified records about unexplained aerial sightings.
| 1) | Trump recounts pilots’ account of a high-speed object |
| 2) | President responds to allegations of a hidden program |
| 3) | Recent records add context to the discussion |
| 4) | Witness accounts remain unverified |
| 5) | Trump signals further scrutiny of UAP claims |
Trump recounts pilots’ account of a high-speed object
During an interview with Ross Douthat that aired Sunday on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Trump was asked whether information he had received had persuaded him that unexplained objects in the sky represented something more than ordinary aircraft or misidentifications. He said he was not strongly convinced, but pointed to discussions with Air Force pilots in the Oval Office.
“They’re flying an F-22, which is the best there is, the fastest, the best plane that anyone’s ever seen. And something goes by them at three times their speed. And it’s round. It’s not aerodynamic.”
Trump did not identify the pilots or provide the date, location, measurements or other operational details of the reported encounter. He characterized them as highly experienced and not conspiracy theorists, saying they had described events he considered strange.
President responds to allegations of a hidden program
The interview also addressed claims by alleged whistleblowers that the federal government maintains a secret program to study UFOs and that the program could be concealed from presidents. Trump said he had not heard of such an operation, but promised to seek information about it after the interview.
“No, and I haven’t heard that. But if there is, I’m going to find out about it right after this interview.”
Trump later acknowledged that many credible people believe the allegations, while maintaining his own skepticism. The remarks do not establish that a covert program exists, and no evidence of such a program was presented in the interview.
Recent records add context to the discussion
Trump’s comments followed the release of a batch of recently declassified records by the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, known as AARO. The records cover unexplained sightings reported over several decades and include a 2026 account from federal law enforcement agents.
According to that account, agents saw a matte-black, triangular object rise vertically above a mountain ridge, hover without an audible sound and then accelerate into a canyon at a speed they compared with that of a fighter jet. The release gave renewed attention to reports involving objects whose appearance or movement did not immediately match conventional aircraft.
Witness accounts remain unverified
The agents reported seeing no engines, rotors, exhaust or other conventional propulsion features. Handheld thermal equipment reportedly showed an even heat signature over the object’s surface rather than concentrated heat associated with many propulsion systems.
The object was not identified. The Pentagon report also cautioned that its speed was estimated by witnesses rather than measured by instruments. That limitation applies to the reported triangular-object encounter and highlights the difference between an observation and a confirmed explanation. The newly released records do not verify Trump’s separate account of the round object near an F-22.
Trump signals further scrutiny of UAP claims
Trump’s statements combine a promise to examine allegations with an explicit reluctance to endorse an extraterrestrial or otherwise extraordinary explanation. His account relies on what pilots reportedly told him, but the available details are insufficient to independently assess the object’s identity, speed or flight characteristics.
The president had previously directed the War Department to release UAP and UFO files. Further review of declassified records could clarify what investigators observed, which data was collected and whether any cases can be resolved through ordinary explanations. Until additional evidence is made public, the claims remain reports of unexplained aerial phenomena rather than confirmed proof of advanced or nonhuman technology.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Trump said pilots described a round object moving three times faster than an F-22. |
| 2 | He did not identify the pilots or provide details about when or where the encounter occurred. |
| 3 | Recent Pentagon records include an unidentified triangular-object sighting reported by federal agents. |
| 4 | The reported speed in the agents’ case was estimated by witnesses, not measured by instruments. |
Summary
Trump has renewed attention on unexplained aerial phenomena by recounting what Air Force pilots allegedly told him about a fast-moving round object. He has not endorsed the claims as proof of UFOs or extraterrestrial activity and has supplied no identifying details about the encounter. Declassified Pentagon records provide additional reports for review, but the available evidence remains inconclusive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Trump say the pilots observed?
He said the pilots told him a round object passed an F-22 at three times the fighter jet’s speed.
Did Trump identify the pilots or the location?
No. He did not identify the pilots or say when or where the reported encounter occurred.
What did the recent Pentagon records describe?
They included a 2026 report from federal law enforcement agents who described a silent, matte-black triangular object rising above a ridge, hovering and accelerating into a canyon.
Has the reported object been identified?
No. The object in the federal agents’ report remained unidentified, and its speed was based on witness estimates rather than instrument measurements.
