The Trump administration has declassified files related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was shot dead in Texas in 1963. The shocking incident has intrigued the American public for decades and during his election run Donald Trump had assured that he would declassify the files related to the assassination once he takes charge. The release, ordered by President Donald Trump, makes previously redacted documents fully accessible to the public, marking a “major step” in government transparency.
The US National Archives and Records Administration posted to its website roughly 2,200 files containing the documents. The vast majority of the National Archives’ collection of over 6 million pages of records, photographs, motion pictures, sound recordings and artifacts related to the assassination have previously been released.
US Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard announced the move on X, stating, “President Trump is ushering in a new era of maximum transparency. Today, per his direction, previously redacted JFK Assassination Files are being released to the public with no redactions. Promises made, promises kept.”
Trump, speaking at the Kennedy Center on Monday, hinted at the impending release. “So people have been waiting decades for this… I’ve instructed my people that are responsible, lots of different people, put together by Tulsi Gabbard, and that’s going to be released tomorrow,” he told reporters.
The decision has resulted in the disclosure of over 1,100 files, totalling approximately 31,000 pages. These documents include CIA memos, FBI reports, and diplomatic cables, shedding light on long-speculated aspects of the Kennedy assassination.
This release follows an executive order Trump signed soon after taking office, prompting the FBI to unearth thousands of additional documents related to the 1963 Dallas shooting.
Revelations in the Documents
Among the key revelations, the documents provide detailed accounts of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald’s movements before the assassination. CIA memos describe his visits to the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City weeks prior to Kennedy’s killing, indicating he may have been seeking visas to travel to Cuba or return to the Soviet Union.
The scale of the disclosure is significant, although Trump had initially suggested that up to 80,000 pages would be made public. Despite the discrepancy, the release offers fresh insights into one of the most analysed events in American history.
After taking into the White House for the second time, Trump is all set to follow the policies and promises that he has thought and made during his election campaign. After signing a flurry of executive orders related to immigration and presidential pardons, he has ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about the 1963 assassination of John F Kennedy (JFK), which has fueled conspiracy theories for decades. On January 23, Trump signed an executive order that also aimed to declassify the remaining federal records relating to the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy (RFK) and the Rev Martin Luther King Jr (MLK).
Declassified files
In US politics, a declassified file is a document that was once restricted or secret for reasons like national security, foreign policy, or military strategy but is now accessible to the public. Declassification happens when the need for secrecy lessens, often due to time, shifting priorities, or public interest. The process can start with government agencies, court orders, or public laws like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Sometimes, executive orders require reviews, such as with the JFK assassination records.
Agencies carefully examine documents to ensure no sensitive details, like covert operations, are exposed. Once cleared, files are released through archives or government websites like the National Archives. Declassified files promote transparency, help the public understand government actions, and hold officials accountable. Historians, journalists, and researchers use them to study and educate others about key events. They are a vital tool for public oversight and historical learning.
The JFK Case
President John F Kennedy (JFK) was a Democrat politician who was one of the most popular and powerful figures in American political history. JFK as he was popularly known belonged to one of the most influential families of the country, the Kennedy family. John F Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He was shot while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas.
Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine with apparent communist ties, was identified as the lone gunman who fired shots from the Texas School Book Depository. Oswald was himself killed by a nightclub owner Jack Ruby just two days after his arrest. The Warren Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson, concluded in 1964 that Oswald acted alone.
However, sceptics have long doubted this conclusion, pointing to inconsistencies such as the so-called “magic bullet theory” (a theory in mass communication that suggests that media messages can directly influence an audience) and Oswald’s visit to Soviet and Cuban embassies before the assassination. The newly released documents may provide deeper insights into the CIA and FBI’s information of Oswald’s activities and their surveillance of him.
The Donald Trump administration has maintained the stance that the President will reveal the details hidden away in classified documents. Many such documents pertain to crucial cases that have been pivotal in the history of the country. Now the declassification of such files will act as another shot against the agencies of the government acting independently and their deep involvement in matters of national importance. Only time will tell what will be the aftereffects of these revelations, as many more such files may be declassified in the coming days and months. As Donald Trump steps up in his charge to take on his opponents and complete his mission of cleaning up the darkness behind the American state machinery.