Rogan Suggests Trump May Disclose UFO Files as Distraction from Iran War

Podcaster Joe Rogan told Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., on Thursday that President Donald Trump may soon disclose classified information on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, commonly known as UFOs, as a distraction from the Iran conflict.

The exchange came during a Thursday episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan, who supported Trump with independent voters in the 2024 election, has criticized the administration's second-term foreign policy. Trump campaigned on avoiding forever wars, but military operations in Iran have strained ties with some media allies.

Rogan questioned the timing of any disclosure on a topic long kept secret by the executive branch. "What doesn't totally make sense is why now—disclosure—other than, I mean this is being cynical… The Iran war is not going very well," he said, citing stalls in Operation Epic Fury. "The American public's very upset. A lot of people don't think we should have ever been involved in that in the first place. And we need some good news."

"We need something to distract us," Rogan added. "We need something to take our focus off—"

"If I was gonna do it, now would be the time I'd do it," Burchett interjected.

Burchett called the timing suspicious but said Trump's motives were straightforward. "I don't think Trump really even cares [about the distraction]. I think he just wants to get it out there," the congressman said. "I don't think he cares about trying to get everybody off target by disclosing UFOs. I think he cares about all of it, but I don't think he cares if they're talking about it or not. I just think he genuinely sees that America needs to know this stuff."

Rogan said Trump still plays the outsider despite being incumbent. "He also realizes America wants to know it... and I mean, this is his last term, right? If someone's going to do it, do it," Rogan said. "You want to leave a legacy? Be the guy who releases all these files."

Burchett, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, has long pushed for UAP transparency. He said entrenched forces in the defense establishment block progress even with Trump in office. "The war pimps at the Pentagon and everybody else, they just don't give up that easy," he said.

Burchett also attacked spending on the Ukraine conflict. "I haven't voted for a dime for that. It's not our dad gum war," he said. "Keep my dollars here. We need to defend our own dad gum borders."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.