Donald Trump has fulfilled a major campaign promise by signing an executive order on January 23 to release all remaining classified files related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
“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 and the release of these records is long overdue,” the order states.
Trump was more direct as he signed the order with a Sharpie. “Everything will be revealed,” he declared.
Polls have consistently shown that most Americans do not believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in Kennedy’s death, fueling decades of speculation and conspiracy theories.
Timeline for Declassification
The order also mandates the release of files connected to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. It requires the attorney general and director of national intelligence to submit a plan for full declassification within 15 days.
Within 45 days, they must also provide a review timeline for documents related to the RFK and MLK cases.
However, this does not mean the documents will be available immediately. The Justice Department and intelligence agencies must first complete their review, which could take time due to national security considerations.
Delayed Releases Under Previous Presidents
Congress passed the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act in 1992, requiring the National Archives to release all assassination-related files by 2017.
However, as the deadline approached, the intelligence community urged Trump to delay, citing the need for further review. Trump postponed the full release, effectively passing the decision to his successor.
Joe Biden later ordered the release of 13,000 documents in 2022 and approved the disclosure of thousands more in 2023, but an estimated 4,000 documents remained classified.
What’s Left in the JFK Files?
Since the 1992 records act, over 320,000 documents have been reviewed, with 99% released. However, some files remain redacted, particularly those containing names of intelligence operatives and covert methods.
Burt Griffin, a former assistant counsel on the Warren Commission, revealed that some documents were withheld due to illegal activities, such as wiretapping mafia leaders.
In February 2025, reports surfaced that 2,400 additional records had never been handed over to the JFK Records Review Board. Trump’s new order may finally bring these hidden files to light.
Will the Release Answer Key Questions?
Many historians doubt the remaining documents will contain any groundbreaking revelations. However, conspiracy theorists and assassination researchers believe they could provide new insights into the possibility of multiple gunmen.
The Warren Commission and other government probes concluded that Oswald acted alone. However, in 1979, the House Select Committee on Assassinations determined there was a “high probability” that JFK was killed as part of a conspiracy.
Task Force on Declassification
In addition to the JFK files, the House Oversight Committee has created a Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. Led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, the task force will focus on records related to the JFK assassination, COVID origins, UFOs, 9/11, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Public hearings are scheduled for March, with an initial briefing on JFK documents set for February 26.
RFK Jr. Backs Trump’s Decision
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long advocated for full transparency on his uncle’s assassination. He praised Trump’s move, calling it a crucial step in exposing decades of government secrecy.
Kennedy has claimed there is “overwhelming evidence” of CIA involvement in JFK’s murder. In a statement on X, he argued that intelligence agencies have used secrecy to cover up crises, from Vietnam to 9/11 and COVID.
With Trump’s executive order now in motion, the question remains—will the long-awaited files finally bring clarity to one of America’s greatest mysteries?
