On January 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating the declassification and public release of remaining documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. This order aims to provide transparency regarding these historical events that have fueled conspiracy theories for decades.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) reported that nearly all records pertaining to JFK’s assassination have already been made public, with approximately 4,700 documents still classified. Trump’s directive requires the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to collaborate with other officials to devise a strategy for the full release of JFK-related files within 15 days. Additionally, they must review and plan for the release of documents concerning RFK and MLK within 45 days.
Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination, but this finding has been met with skepticism over the years. Oswald was killed two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, further complicating the narrative and giving rise to various conspiracy theories.
Trump emphasized the importance of transparency in his signing statement, asserting that the families of the victims and the American public “deserve truth.” He expressed confidence that “everything will come to light” as a result of this executive order.
More than 50 years after the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Federal Government has not released to the public all of its records related to those events. Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth. It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay… Declassification and Disclosure. (a) Within 15 days of the date of this order, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General shall, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Counsel to the President, present a plan to the President for the full and complete release of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. – Read the Full Order on Whiehouse.gov
The release of these documents is highly anticipated by historians and researchers who hope it may shed new light on events surrounding these pivotal moments in American history. However, experts caution that while some new information may emerge, significant revelations are not guaranteed.
This executive order marks a continuation of Trump’s efforts to declassify information related to these assassinations, following previous actions during his first term. The move has reignited public interest in the circumstances surrounding JFK’s assassination and the broader implications for U.S. history.
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[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-release-jfk-assassination-files-2025/
[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/24/why-is-trump-releasing-the-last-files-on-jfk-rfl-mlk-assassinations
[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/24/trump-orders-release-of-last-files-on-assassinations-of-jfk-rfk-and-mlk
[4] https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2025/01/24/trump-s-order-to-release-thousands-of-jfk-files-could-shed-more-light-on-1963-assassination
[5] https://www.fox4news.com/news/declassified-jfk-files-released-what-we-know
[6] https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-orders-declassification-of-jfk-rfk-and-mlk-assassination-files/
[7] https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/25/us/jfk-rfk-mlk-assassination-files-release/index.html
[8] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-announces-jfk-rfk-mlk-assassination-files-to-be-released/
[9] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declassification-of-records-concerning-the-assassinations-of-president-john-f-kennedy/