The Pentagon on Friday released a major tranche of never-before-seen files about UFOs, the latest in a series of declassifications on topics that have long captivated Americans and spawned conspiracy theories. “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves.” A new website made public Friday by the Defense Department — war.gov/UFO — is replete with a rotating carousel of black-and-white images of unidentified aerial phenomena. Statements from several government officials suggested this was merely the first tranche of releases, and that more UFO files would be declassified and released at a later date. Former President Barack Obama touched off the most recent round of rampant speculation about the existence of alien life when he said in a February interview that aliens are “real but I haven’t seen them.” Though Obama walked back his comments, suggesting statistically there probably is life out there but he has seen no evidence of it, Trump revealed plans to release the government’s UFO files later that month. “While past administrations sought to discredit or dissuade the American people, President Trump is focused on providing maximum transparency to the public, who can ultimately make up their own minds about the information contained in these files,” the Pentagon wrote.