Department of Research, Studies and International News  25-01-2025

In a move that rekindles debates around some of the most contentious moments in American history, former U.S. President Donald Trump has mandated the declassification and release of all remaining files tied to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy (JFK), Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Trump’s decision, announced through an executive order, aims to shed light on the mysteries that have fueled conspiracy theories for decades.

“This is monumental,” Trump declared as he signed the executive order at the White House, emphasizing the significance of the long-awaited disclosure. “Everything will be revealed,” he added, addressing widespread public anticipation.

The Scope of the Order

The directive specifies a timeline for unveiling the documents. The director of national intelligence is required to deliver a comprehensive plan within 15 days to ensure the full release of records concerning JFK’s assassination. Additionally, a strategy for releasing the remaining files related to RFK and MLK must be submitted within 45 days.

This initiative comes amidst enduring public skepticism about the official narratives surrounding these tragic events. Notably, the assassination of JFK in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most scrutinized and debated incidents in American history.

Despite official findings, including the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President Kennedy, skepticism remains high. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that 65% of Americans doubted the Commission’s report. Among those surveyed, 20% suspected Oswald’s collaboration with the U.S. government, while 16% believed he conspired with the CIA.

RFK Jr., Trump’s nominee for health secretary and son of the slain senator, has further fueled speculation. In a 2023 interview, he asserted that compelling evidence points to CIA involvement in his uncle’s assassination and suggested circumstantial connections to his father’s murder. Upon signing the executive order, Trump symbolically handed his pen to an aide, instructing them to give it to RFK Jr.

Controversy and Criticism

Not everyone has welcomed the decision. Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, criticized the move as politically motivated, accusing Trump of exploiting his grandfather’s legacy. “Declassification is using JFK as a political prop when he’s not here to punch back. There’s nothing heroic about it,” Schlossberg remarked on social media.

The debate over transparency versus national security is not new. In 1992, Congress passed legislation requiring the release of JFK assassination-related files by 2017 unless the president deemed it harmful to national security. Trump released over 2,800 documents when the deadline arrived but held back thousands more due to objections from the CIA and FBI. Subsequent efforts under President Joe Biden led to the disclosure of an additional 17,000 documents, leaving fewer than 4,700 still withheld, either partially or fully.

The murders of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. remain similarly shrouded in controversy. RFK was fatally shot at a Los Angeles hotel on June 5, 1968, shortly after celebrating his California Democratic primary victory. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-Jordanian, was convicted for the crime and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. Sirhan continues to maintain his innocence, and his recent parole application was denied.

Dr. King, whose leadership defined the Civil Rights Movement, was assassinated on April 4, 1968, outside a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Although James Earl Ray confessed to the crime and received a 99-year prison sentence, he later recanted, claiming his confession was coerced. Ray maintained his innocence until his death in 1998.

Historical Significance

The long-awaited disclosure of these files may not only provide closure to the families and followers of JFK, RFK, and MLK but could also address the enduring public mistrust surrounding these assassinations. With over 99% of the roughly 320,000 documents related to JFK’s assassination already released under the 1992 law, the remaining files hold the potential to either confirm or refute some of the most persistent conspiracy theories in modern American history.

As the final chapters of these historic tragedies are prepared for public scrutiny, the world awaits answers to questions that have lingered for more than half a century.