President Donald Trump announced plans to declassify the assassination files of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The move is part of Trump’s promise for greater government transparency, which he reiterated during a speech before his inauguration. The release of these files is expected “in the coming days,” according to Trump.
The president tied the announcement to his broader goals of reducing government secrecy, stating that overclassification hinders public accountability. Trump previously released partial records on JFK’s assassination during his first term but withheld others at the request of intelligence agencies citing national security concerns. Now, Trump vows to release all remaining files to fulfill the spirit of the 1992 JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, which mandated the public release of assassination records by 2017, barring presidential extensions.
Trump’s commitment to declassification aligns with a promise made after an assassination attempt on his own life last July. During that time, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his support for Trump, and the two reportedly discussed the dangers faced by leaders challenging political establishments. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken critic of the CIA, has alleged agency involvement in his uncle’s assassination.
This release would mark a significant reversal of Trump’s earlier decision to withhold documents. On the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Trump explained that he had been advised by officials, including former CIA Director Mike Pompeo, to keep certain files sealed due to potential risks to living individuals and ongoing intelligence operations. Trump defended his initial decision, but now argues that the time has come for full disclosure, stating: “I think it’s going to be just fine to open it. Let me put it that way, it’s going to be fine. I think it’s time. It’s a cleansing. … So, I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it immediately, almost immediately upon entering office.”
The files are expected to shed light on longstanding controversies surrounding these high-profile assassinations. Critics of the initial decision to withhold some records have called for full transparency to address decades of speculation and conspiracy theories.
The Kennedy and King assassinations have left lasting marks on American history. JFK was killed on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade. His brother Robert was assassinated on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles during his presidential campaign. Dr. King, a civil rights leader, was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Despite numerous investigations, questions remain about the circumstances and possible conspiracies surrounding these tragedies.
As anticipation builds for the release, Trump’s decision could reignite public interest in the events and potentially reshape understanding of these pivotal moments in American history.
