Former U.K. Defense Ministry official Nick Pope tells Fox News Digital that the declassification of federal secrets, including UFO files, is of high interest to the American people.

Pope, a UFO expert, believes President Donald Trump’s move to declassify decades-old government documents could reveal a potential “cover-up” and expose significant federal secrets.

“The government for decades has investigated UFOs. I think it’s undeniable that the government has looked at this for decades. They’ve had multiple programs,” Pope said.

He added that many believe there is a “smoking gun” in the files, with some suspecting the U.S. intelligence community knows about extraterrestrial involvement. “That’s the $64,000 question,” Pope noted.

The CIA stated it has made records available to the public for decades, directing further inquiries to the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

Pope emphasized that the big question for many Americans is whether any of this is extraterrestrial. He praised Trump’s instincts, noting the president’s ability to connect with public interest beyond traditional election issues like the economy and border security.

Pope also highlighted potential national security threats, citing reports from pilots and radar operators about UFOs displaying advanced speeds and maneuvers.

“An adversary has made a quantum leap, in which case the United States needs to know about that and close the gap pretty darn quickly. Or is there something else in our skies?” he said.