Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sparked waves of excitement, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of amusement this week when he responded to President Trump’s executive order calling for the declassification of files on JFK, RFK, and MLK with a simple but powerful statement: “Now do UFOs.”

In just three words, Schumer reignited the public discourse on one of humanity’s most tantalizing mysteries and underscored his long-standing engagement with the topic of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). It’s not just a quip; it’s a challenge that ties decades of work, advocacy, and intrigue into a broader push for governmental transparency.

A Legacy of Inquiry

To fully appreciate Schumer’s statement, you have to consider the beautiful way this narrative has unfolded over the years. Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was the driving force behind the Pentagon’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a little-known initiative that officially studied UAPs from 2007 to 2012. Reid’s efforts laid the groundwork for what would come next:

1. The Elizondo Effect: When former AATIP director Lue Elizondo went public, his revelations helped catapult the UAP conversation to the front page of The New York Times in 2017. Suddenly, UFOs were no longer a fringe topic but a serious national security issue.

2. Schumer’s Leadership: As Reid’s close ally and successor as Senate Majority Leader, Schumer has carried the torch. His leadership saw the passage of the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act (UAPDA) in the Senate, setting the stage for greater accountability and potential transparency about what the government knows regarding UFOs.

It’s a journey that feels almost literary in its progression—like a multi-decade epic weaving together determination, revelations, and political will. And now, Schumer’s public dare to declassify UFO files feels like the story’s climactic twist.

The Presidential Wildcard

What makes Schumer’s statement particularly intriguing is the implied challenge to presidential authority. Technically, any sitting president has the power to declassify vast amounts of information. President Trump’s order regarding the JFK, RFK, and MLK files is a case in point. However, as Schumer knows, UFO-related files exist in a uniquely tangled web of bureaucracy.

Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the “Q clearance” classification, designed to safeguard nuclear secrets, extends to certain UFO-related materials. This makes declassification more complex, requiring congressional action to repeal or amend the Act. Schumer’s advocacy through the UAPDA is part of an effort to unravel this red tape, but his “Now do UFOs” comment puts the ball squarely in the president’s court.

Imagine the potential: A president standing at a podium delivering a speech that reveals humanity’s first contact with non-human intelligence, or even just the acknowledgment of decades of sightings and studies. It would be historic and likely one of the most significant speeches of the 21st century. Yet, caution seems to prevail in the Oval Office, no matter who occupies it.

A Dare to Dream, and Act

Schumer’s “I dare you” moment reflects the growing public appetite for answers. Why the hesitancy to reveal what’s hidden? Is it fear of public panic? Concern about national security? Or is it, as some speculate, that the truth is stranger than fiction? His words remind us that the truth, whatever it may be, is worth pursuing.

To whoever holds the keys to disclosure, the challenge is clear: Now do UFOs.