President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating the release of remaining documents related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. This declaration was paired with a pledge to provide long-awaited openness to the American populace and the relatives of the fallen leaders.
“People have anticipated this for years, even for decades,” Trump remarked during the signing event in the Oval Office. He directed that the pen utilized for the order be handed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s appointee for Secretary of Health and Human Services and the nephew of the late President Kennedy. “All will be revealed,” Trump added.
While many JFK-related files have already been disclosed—including 13,000 documents released under the Biden administration—several remain redacted or classified. Trump’s order emphasizes the need for full disclosure, stating, “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.”
The directive outlines a gradual schedule for the release. The Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General must deliver a thorough plan for declassifying JFK-related records within 15 days. A 45-day timeline is set for the files related to RFK and MLK.
In 2023, the National Archives reported that 99% of JFK assassination records had already been made publicly available, following an earlier review initiated during Joe Biden’s presidency. Biden also certified that any remaining documents authorized for release had been disclosed, meeting a prior deadline.
However, a small portion of records remains classified. Organizations like the CIA, Pentagon, and State Department contend that specific documents need to stay classified to preserve the identities of current informants and protect intelligence-collection techniques.
During his presidency, Trump withheld the complete set of JFK files at the request of national security agencies. He has emphasized once again his dedication to finishing the process while running for the 2024 election.
This action has rekindled public curiosity about revealing the enigmas related to the deaths of three legendary personalities of 20th-century America. Whether the release will provide new revelations or merely confirm long-held theories remains to be seen.