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Trump Signs Order to Declassify Records on Historic Assassinations
President Donald Trump has formally signed an executive order directing the declassification of government documents connected to the assassinations of key historical figures, including President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
This order aims to address lingering uncertainties regarding these assassinations, which occurred over 50 years ago. Official narratives suggest that all three assassinations were the result of actions by isolated individuals, but this has been met with skepticism, leading to a proliferation of conspiracy theories. The ongoing classification of certain records has significantly contributed to the development and persistence of these theories.
In a statement made in the Oval Office while signing the order, Trump remarked, “That’s a big one,” acknowledging the public’s longstanding anticipation regarding the release of these documents. He emphasized, “A lot of people are waiting for this for a long, long time, for years, for decades, and everything will be revealed.”
The executive order mandates that the director of national intelligence and the attorney general collaborate with the assistant to the president for national security affairs and Trump’s counsel to formulate a comprehensive plan for the declassification of Kennedy’s assassination records within 15 days. This framework is also expected to cover the files related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King.
The order cites a lack of transparency surrounding these significant historical events, stating, “More than 50 years after the assassinations… the Federal Government has not released to the public all of its records related to those events.” It underscores the importance of making this information available to the families of the victims and the American public, asserting that “it is in the national interest to finally release all records… without delay.”
The legislation governing the disclosure of records related to President Kennedy’s assassination, known as the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, mandated complete public disclosure by October 26, 2017 unless specific criteria were met justifying continued withholding. Both Trump and his successor, President Joe Biden, have previously authorized delays in the release of these documents. Recently, during an interview, Trump revealed that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who previously led the CIA, had urged him against declassifying certain records.
In his latest directive, Trump stated that “the continued redaction and withholding of information from records pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not consistent with the public interest,” emphasizing that the time for release is overdue. He also extended the call for transparency to records concerning the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., stating that such disclosures align with the public interest.
The tragic events began with President Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, during a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. His younger brother, Robert Kennedy, was also tragically killed on June 5, 1968, shortly after winning the Democratic primary for the presidency, while Reverend King was slain on April 4, 1968, on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.
In a notable development, Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of Robert Kennedy, to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In response to the executive order, RFK Jr. expressed gratitude towards Trump, stating, “I think it’s a great move, because they need to have more transparency in our government.” He emphasized the importance of the government’s obligation to provide clarity to the American public regarding these critical historical events.
Conversely, skepticism emerged from Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President Kennedy, who criticized the move. He argued that the usage of JFK in this context could trivialize the serious nature of his assassination, asserting that “declassification is using JFK as a political prop, when he’s not here to punch back.” He contended that the reality of the assassinations is far more tragic than the various myths surrounding them.
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