President Donald Trump has a familiar rhythm when he feels an opening. When the question lands, there’s a split second where he could let it pass or treat it lightly, but instead he leans forward, convinced there’s something to be gained by pushing harder. It’s a pattern of spotting what lo oks like an easy target especially when he sees an opportunity to target a perceived political enemy and doesn’t always register the guardrails in the room. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One while flying from Palm Beach International Airport on February 16, 2026 en route to Washington, DC. President Trump returned to Washington after a Presidents Day weekend in Florida. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Aboard Air Force One late last week, that instinct was on full display. Trump appeared to think he had just received an easy layup to stick it to his one-sided archrival, former President Barack Obama. The exchange began as a routine question during a brief QA with reporters when Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked him directly, “Barack Obama said that aliens are real. Have you seen any evidence of nonhuman visitors to Earth?” ‘I Knew It!’: Newsom Gut-Checks Rubio Over His Brazen Trump Flip — Then Christie Blows the Lid Off Who Really Trashes Trump Behind His Back and It’s Messier Than Expected Instead of treating it as speculative or unserious, Trump escalated immediately. “Well, he gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that,” Trump said, as if the gotcha had already been secured. Doocy didn’t miss a beat. He quickly followed up and narrowed the focus, asking Trump whether he was confirming that aliens are real. But it was Trump who appeared to edge the conversation further when he repeated that “he took it out of classified information,” as if confirming the government indeed has details on the existence of aliens. “I don’t know if they’re real or not. I can tell you he gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake. He took it out of classified information.” The irony is that the original podcast comments were delivered in a lighthearted speed round on the “No Lie With Brian Tyler Cohen” show. Obama had joked that aliens “are real,” but clarified they weren’t being kept at Area 51 — adding that there was no underground facility “unless there’s this enormous conspiracy, and they hid it from the president of the United States.” He later clarified on Instagram that he was speaking about the statistical likelihood of life somewhere in the universe and stated plainly, “I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama) But Trump never misses a chance to go after an enemy. And this time, in his effort to frame Obama as reckless with classified information, critics argue he may have complicated the narrative himself. Social media went wild, with plenty of people pointing out that it was Trump who actually confirmed the government has known about UFOs and alien life all along. “So…Trump said it. Not Obama,” sharp-eared X user Cap posted. Another X user agreed, “He indeed, did not f****ng say that. And trump indeed verified that aliens are real. Props to the reporter. Master baiter.” This X user chimed in, “Obama didn’t give up anything classified but it appears Trump just did. Dude has no concept of context.” Doocy: Barack Obama said aliens are real. Trump: He's not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake giving out classified information. pic.twitter.com/UF6DWCgcIA— Acyn (@Acyn) February 19, 2026 Doocy then introduced the pivot that would later loom larger than the initial exchange. “Well, the president can declassify anything that he wants to, so if you want to make an announcement…” Trump responded without hesitation: “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying it.” But only hours after accusing someone else of revealing classified information, Trump leaned into the attention generated by the viral clip and fell right into Doocy’s trap. On Truth Social, he announced that he had directed federal 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.” View on Threads “Based on the tremendous interest shown,” Trump wrote, he would move toward releasing the materials. Trump himself has given various responses over the years when asked about the existence of extraterrestrial life. Trump has given various responses over the years when asked about the existence of extraterrestrial life. In 2019 after a briefing on alleged UFO sightings Trump told ABC News, “Do I believe it? Not particularly,” according to Newsweek. He also told Fox News host at the time Tucker Carlson, “I’m not a believer, but you know, I guess anything is possible.” The in 2020, according to the Hill, Trump told his older son Don Jr. when asked about what really happened in Roswell, “I won’t talk to you about what I know about it, but it’s very interesting.”  The again in an interview with Fox in 2024 Trump said, pilots had described to him seeing a “round object going faster than my F-22.” ‘He Made a Big Mistake!’: Trump Walks Straight Into a Reporter’s Trap, Rushes to Fire Off a Cheap Shot — Doesn’t See the Setup Until the Follow-Up Smacks Him in the Face ...read more read less