Trump calls for declassification of Amelia Earhart files, world must know fate of missing aviator

President Donald Trump on Friday urged the declassification and release of any government records related to Amelia Earhart, the pioneering aviator who disappeared in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. In a post on Truth Social, he said the world must know Earhart's fate and ordered his administration to declassify and release all records related to her final trip, saying, "I am ordering my Administration to declassify and release all Government Records related to Amelia Earhart, her final trip, and everything else about her." Officials cautioned that it is not yet clear whether any such files exist or would be eligible for release, and there was no immediate public comment from the White House by publication.

Earhart disappeared over the South Pacific during her attempt to become the first woman to fly solo around the world in 1937. The mystery surrounding her last known flight has persisted for decades, fueling speculation about what happened to her and whether any traces of her journey remain. The era’s records are fragmentary, and investigators have long pointed to fuel exhaustion and potential crash scenarios as the most plausible explanations. Some theories have suggested she may have reached a desert island or another location, but none have been proven, and no conclusive evidence has ever emerged in the ensuing decades. Ongoing investigations and interest in a possible crash site have kept the case in public imagination, though there is no widely accepted breakthrough.

The president’s call for Earhart records comes amid a broader pattern in which he has pressed for declassification of government materials, including in a prior push to release files related to financier Jeffrey Epstein. In that earlier episode, the administration faced pushback from the Department of Justice, which signaled limits to any unilateral declassification. A tranche of Epstein-related documents released last month included a crude drawing of a woman’s body that some reports attributed to the material; Trump has denied sending the drawing and has pursued a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over coverage of the matter. Those developments have been cited by observers as illustrating the political risk and legal sensitivities involved in declassification efforts.

Officials cautioned that there is no public confirmation that Earhart-era files exist in a declassifiable form, and they noted there is no known link between Earhart’s activities and U.S. national security agencies. The Earhart case has long stood apart from overt government involvement in security matters, reinforcing the view that any files, if they exist, would represent historical material rather than active intelligence concerns. The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately provide further comment, and the White House has not announced plans to offer new disclosures related to Earhart beyond what may exist in archives.

The development is unfolding in the context of President Trump’s broader campaign-era narrative about transparency and declassification, which has included other high-profile prompts to reveal government records. Analysts say the Earhart request could become a test case for how the administration handles requests to release sensitive historical data, particularly when the subject blends national curiosity with the politics of accountability.

As the story develops, officials and historians will be watching whether any credible, declassifiable Earhart material emerges from national archives or other repositories. The absence of confirmed files would itself be a notable data point for researchers studying the disappearance and its enduring cultural resonance. Audiences should expect updates as archival reviews proceed and as the administration responds to inquiries about the scope and legality of any potential release.

Developing story; check back for updates.