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DALLAS (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered the release of thousands of classified government documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a tragedy that has fueled conspiracy theories for decades.
Trump’s executive order, signed Thursday, also aims to declassify remaining federal records about the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The order is part of a series of swift executive actions taken by Trump in the first week of his second term.
Speaking to reporters, Trump assured, “everything will be revealed.”
During his reelection campaign, Trump promised to make public the last remaining classified documents related to President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, a case that has captivated the public for more than half a century. Trump made a similar pledge during his first term, but eventually deferred to requests from the CIA and FBI to withhold certain files.
Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the slain senator, to serve as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed doubts about the official account of his uncle’s assassination, suggesting that a lone gunman may not have been solely responsible for President Kennedy’s death.
Details of the Order:
The executive order directs the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to develop a plan to release the remaining documents related to JFK’s assassination within 15 days, and to release the records on the deaths of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. within 45 days. It is not clear when the actual release of these documents will occur.
Trump also handed the pen used to sign the order to an aide, with instructions for it to be given to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Unreleased Documents:
Although many documents have already been made public, thousands of records related to JFK’s assassination remain classified. The records have been stored in the National Archives since the 1990s, when the federal government mandated that all related documents be kept in a single collection. That collection, which contains over 5 million records, was required to be fully opened by 2017, except for those deemed exempt by the president.
Despite the release of many files over the years, researchers caution that there is unlikely to be a “bombshell” revelation. However, the files remain the subject of intense scrutiny, with some experts suggesting that small, overlooked details could still shed new light on the events of that fateful day in 1963.
“There’s always a chance something might slip through — a tiny tip of a much larger iceberg,” said Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics and author of The Kennedy Half-Century. “That’s what researchers are hoping for. Chances are slim, but it’s still possible.”
President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, as his motorcade passed in front of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine, is said to have fired the fatal shots from a sixth-floor window. Two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald during his transfer to jail.
The King and RFK Assassinations:
In addition to the JFK files, Trump’s order covers records related to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the killing, though he later retracted his confession and maintained his innocence until his death. FBI documents released over the years reveal the bureau’s extensive surveillance of King, including wiretapping his phone lines and using informants to monitor his activities, which was later examined in the documentary MLK/FBI.
Robert F. Kennedy was shot on June 5, 1968, shortly after delivering a victory speech following his win in California’s Democratic primary. Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian Arab, was convicted of murder and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
What’s Left to Reveal:
While most of the JFK-related records have been released, researchers believe that around 3,000 documents remain classified, many of them originating with the CIA. These documents have included details about Oswald’s trips to Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City, shortly before the assassination, as well as his earlier defection to the Soviet Union.
However, some documents will never be released. Approximately 500 files, including tax returns, are not covered by the 2017 disclosure requirement. Additionally, over the years, some documents have been lost or destroyed.
As the government moves to release more records, researchers and the public will continue to scrutinize every document, hoping to uncover new insights into the tragic events that shaped American history.
