Trump Reveals Air Force Pilots Encountered a Mysterious Object That Reportedly Outpaced an F-22 Fighter Jet

President Donald Trump has revealed that several US Air Force pilots once described an extraordinary encounter involving an unidentified object that allegedly moved three times faster than an F-22 fighter jet. The object reportedly had a round shape, showed no conventional aerodynamic design, and appeared capable of speeds that left the experienced military pilots with questions. Trump shared the account during a televised interview, describing the personnel involved as highly credible despite admitting that he remains skeptical about UFO claims.

The president’s comments have now brought renewed attention to mysterious aerial encounters, particularly as the Pentagon continues releasing previously classified records involving unidentified anomalous phenomena. Trump also addressed allegations that secret government programs could be investigating UFOs without the president’s knowledge. His response suggested he was prepared to investigate those claims, raising another question about how much information the federal government has collected about unexplained objects appearing in American airspace.

Trump Describes What Air Force Pilots Told Him

Trump discussed the unusual encounter during an interview with Ross Douthat on CBS’s 60 Minutes, which aired on November 8, 2026. During their conversation, Douthat asked whether the president had personally heard anything that convinced him unidentified objects spotted in the sky might represent something beyond conventional aircraft or other familiar explanations. Trump admitted he was “not too much of a believer,” but revealed that he had spoken with several Air Force pilots during meetings in the Oval Office. He described the personnel as experienced military professionals who had shared accounts he considered difficult to explain.

The president also spent time describing the pilots themselves, making it clear that he regarded them as credible witnesses. Trump recalled meeting them during his first administration and again during part of his second term. He said, “These are not people that you would say are conspiracy theorists. They don’t even know what it means. But they’re great, great pilots.” He also joked about their appearance, comparing their haircuts and overall presentation to actor Tom Cruise. Despite the humorous remarks, Trump returned to the substance of their accounts, calling the pilots “the real deal.”

One particular story stood out because it involved an encounter with an F-22 Raptor. Trump said the pilots described something passing their aircraft at approximately three times its speed, despite having a shape that did not resemble a conventional aerodynamic vehicle. He explained, “And something goes by them at three times their speed and it’s round. It’s not aerodynamic, it’s round.” The president did not identify the pilots, disclose the date of the encounter, or reveal where the incident supposedly happened. Those missing details leave important questions about the sighting unanswered.

Why the F-22 Fighter Jet Makes the Encounter Interesting

The aircraft mentioned by Trump is the F-22 Raptor, one of the most advanced fighter jets operated by the United States Air Force. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the aircraft combines stealth technology, advanced radar systems, high maneuverability, and powerful engines designed for air superiority missions. Its capabilities allow American pilots to detect and engage potential threats while maintaining significant advantages in speed and positioning. The F-22 also features supercruise technology, allowing it to sustain supersonic flight without continuously using afterburners.

The aircraft’s reputation helps explain why Trump’s description attracted attention. If an unidentified object genuinely passed an F-22 at three times its speed, establishing how that speed was calculated would become a central part of understanding the encounter. However, the president did not provide an exact speed measurement or explain whether the pilots relied on radar, visual observation, or other instruments. There was also no information about the distance between the aircraft and the unidentified object. Without those technical details, the reported speed cannot be independently established.

Several unanswered questions would help investigators assess the account:

• Flight location: Where were the pilots operating when they reportedly encountered the object?
• Encounter date: When did the incident happen, and which military unit was involved?
• Radar recordings: Did military tracking systems detect the object during the encounter?
• Speed calculations: Was the reported speed measured electronically or estimated by the pilots?
• Additional witnesses: Were other aircraft or personnel present when the object passed the F-22?

These details could help establish whether the encounter involved an unusual aircraft, a measurement error, or something that remains unexplained. For now, the public has Trump’s description of what the pilots allegedly told him, without the original military documentation needed to verify the incident.

Trump Responds to Allegations of Secret UFO Programs

The interview also moved toward allegations that the US government could be operating secret programs dedicated to investigating unidentified aerial phenomena. Some individuals describing themselves as whistleblowers have claimed that classified investigations exist beyond ordinary government oversight. Certain allegations go further, suggesting that even presidents might not receive information about every program connected to the subject. Douthat asked Trump whether he had encountered evidence supporting claims that a secret operation could exist without presidential knowledge.

Trump said he had not heard about such a program before the interview. However, he indicated that he would look into the allegations if credible information emerged. “No, and I haven’t heard that,” Trump said. “But if there is, I’m going to find out about it right after this interview.” His response did not confirm that any hidden program exists, nor did he announce a formal investigation. It simply indicated that he was willing to examine the possibility.

The president also acknowledged that several people he considered credible believed there was something unusual happening in the skies. Nevertheless, he maintained his personal skepticism and did not claim that the objects were extraterrestrial spacecraft. This distinction is important because unidentified aerial phenomena cover a wide range of observations that have not been conclusively explained. An unidentified object does not automatically represent alien technology or evidence of an undisclosed government discovery. Establishing its identity requires reliable evidence rather than speculation surrounding unusual sightings.

Pentagon Records Reveal Another Unusual Aerial Sighting

Trump’s remarks came just weeks after the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, commonly known as AARO, released additional declassified records documenting unidentified aerial phenomena. The newly available material included reports covering sightings across several decades, bringing attention to encounters involving military personnel and federal investigators. One particularly unusual account involved federal law enforcement agents who reportedly witnessed a matte-black triangular object above a mountainous area in 2026. The description included several movements that the witnesses struggled to explain through conventional aircraft capabilities.

According to the account, the object rose vertically above a mountain ridge before hovering silently in the air. Witnesses then reported watching it accelerate toward a canyon at a speed they compared to a fighter jet. They described seeing no conventional engines, rotors, exhaust, or other obvious propulsion systems. Handheld thermal equipment also reportedly showed a relatively uniform heat signature across the object’s surface, rather than concentrated heat associated with conventional propulsion. An accompanying image depicted a dark triangular shape above mountainous terrain, although authorities had not confirmed whether it represented an actual photograph or a reconstruction.

The report also contained an important qualification regarding the object’s estimated speed. Investigators noted that the witnesses had estimated its movement rather than recording a precise measurement using instruments. The object was never identified, leaving its origin and capabilities unresolved. Although the account shares some similarities with other unusual aerial observations, there is no established evidence connecting this triangular sighting to the separate round-object encounter described by Trump. They remain two distinct reports involving unidentified objects and incomplete technical information.

What Investigators Need to Establish About UFO Sightings

Investigating unidentified aerial phenomena requires more than collecting descriptions from people who witnessed something unusual. Military and government investigators need supporting information that can establish an object’s position, movement, appearance, and possible origin. Radar recordings, infrared footage, flight logs, weather conditions, and information from multiple witnesses can all help reconstruct an encounter. When several independent systems record the same event, investigators have a stronger basis for determining whether an unusual observation involved a conventional aircraft, atmospheric phenomenon, or another explanation.

There are several possible explanations that investigators generally need to consider when examining unidentified aerial observations:

• Conventional aircraft: Military or civilian aircraft can appear unusual when observed from unexpected angles or distances.
• Drones: Advanced unmanned aircraft can perform movements that may be difficult for witnesses to interpret.
• Atmospheric phenomena: Weather-related events and unusual lighting conditions can create confusing visual observations.
• Optical distortions: Camera limitations, reflections, and viewing conditions can affect how objects appear to move.
• Unidentified technology: Some encounters remain unexplained when investigators cannot obtain sufficient information to determine the object’s identity.

The existence of unresolved sightings does not establish that extraterrestrial visitors have reached Earth. It also does not mean every unusual observation has an ordinary explanation waiting to be discovered. Investigators must assess each incident using the evidence available, while acknowledging when the information is insufficient. In the case Trump described, the absence of an identified location, date, pilot testimony, and supporting recordings makes it difficult to reach any firm conclusion.

Trump’s UFO Comments Put Government Disclosure Back in Focus

The president’s remarks have also renewed attention on the government’s responsibility to explain what it knows about unidentified aerial phenomena. Previous releases of military footage and declassified documents have provided the public with additional information about encounters that were once difficult to examine. However, releasing records does not necessarily resolve every sighting, particularly when important technical details remain classified, unavailable, or were never collected. Trump’s comments suggest that questions about government knowledge and access to classified investigations remain part of the wider discussion.

His willingness to investigate allegations of secret programs could bring further attention to how UFO-related information is collected and shared across government agencies. If additional records exist, establishing which agencies hold them and whether they can be made public would help clarify the situation. The president has not announced a specific investigation or provided a timetable for further disclosures. His interview also offered no confirmation that an operation concealed from presidential oversight is currently running.

The F-22 encounter remains the most striking part of Trump’s account, but its extraordinary speed claim still lacks publicly available technical evidence. Identifying the pilots and examining their original reports would provide a starting point for determining what happened. Until that information becomes available, the mysterious round object remains unidentified, and the reported encounter remains an account shared by the president rather than a verified demonstration of technology capable of outpacing America’s advanced fighter aircraft.