“HAVE FUN AND ENJOY” – President Trump’s X/Twitter Post
More than 160 declassified files were released to the public this month(May 2026). photos, videos, and testimonies of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, UAPs, formerly known as UFOs. Per President Trump’s February order, the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) posted them at war.gov/UFO.
What do we get? More questions than answers. The Air Force reported a metallic sphere keeping pace with a C-17 at 35,000 feet over the Atlantic before disappearing. NAVY HUD footage of a “Tic Tac” object with no exhaust or wings pulling 80g turns. A 1991 Space Shuttle mission transcription of flashing lights in space unrelated to any known satellite. Add testimonies from radar operators, commercial and private pilots, and military observers spanning decades.
What we don’t get: revelations. No crash sites featuring bodies. No confirmation by the Pentagon that Earth is not alone in the universe in terms of life. Cases with multiple observers, advanced sensors, and physics that defy our understanding of modern aircraft are called “unresolved.” For the most part, the released files are the same material that has been shared online for 20 years, only this time with a government seal and still no real follow-up or explanation.
“What the hell is going on?” That was the statement made by President Trump in the same post. Meant as a challenge to readers of the UAP disclosure, it instead became the average American’s question. Citizens across the country have asked this administration to release files for years. However, no one expected we would get UAP files instead of Epstein files. The release feels like a cartoon chase, with the fleeing villain yelling, “Hey, look at that!” Pointing at nothing, the police stop and look while the burglar makes his getaway.
That said, while on the campaign trail, President Trump did promise a release of information regarding UAPs. 67% of the general public believes the government knows more about UAPs than they are willing to disclose. Releasing these files was intended to earn goodwill and risked little beyond public trust, while people ask why these files came before the ones we’ve been demanding. No one thought we were going to get files on aliens before pedophiles that need to be jailed.
Not that these UAP files don’t matter. There is technology capable of outrunning our F-22s. There is technology that has shown gaps in our radar surveillance. Twelve near-miss reports between UAPs and commercial airliners since 2019. Eight of the files present scenarios that our declassified science and military technology is unable to replicate. If our adversaries or even our allies have achieved this level of technology without us knowing or being able to keep up, it’s realistically more concerning than if it were actually extraterrestrial in origin. A bigger threat that presents a clear and present danger is if these ultra-advanced UAPs are actually terrestrial in origin and wearing a tag that says “Made in China.”
Whatever your opinions on President Trump are, one thing is obvious: he is a reactionary. He isn’t afraid to look at a situation and provide his unique brand of solution, and it’s usually a “hammer”. It’s worth remembering that he had been in office for a little more than two years before he decided that the United States definitely needed a branch of the military called the Space Force, focused on military technology and expansion beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Within three years, that branch was established.
What did Donald Trump learn shortly after becoming President that convinced him a sixth branch of the military focused on space was necessary?
Final Take. The undeniable truth is that there are things in the skies our Government claims they can’t explain. Decide for yourself if it’s more concerning for them to be telling the truth or deceiving you.
Collin Duprel is a guest columnist for the Rapid City Post. Opinions expressed may not necessarily represent the views of the Rapid City Post, its affiliates, or advertisers.
