President Donald Trump has fulfilled his promise of transparency by releasing a significant number of documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This release includes approximately 80,000 pages of previously classified records, all made available without any redactions. The announcement came from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which stated that this action aligns with an executive order signed by Trump.
On Monday, while visiting the Kennedy Center, Trump revealed his plan to disclose these documents. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, praised the move, stating that it marks a new era of maximum transparency. She emphasized that the files are now accessible to the public, both online and in hard copy at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland.
The ODNI explained that the records can be accessed online starting Tuesday. They also mentioned that documents currently available only for in-person viewing will soon be digitized and uploaded to the National Archives website. Gabbard plans to provide updates on social media as the files are released, and the documents will also be posted on the White House’s website.
However, some records remain sealed due to legal restrictions, including those related to grand jury secrecy and certain tax records. The National Archives is collaborating with the Department of Justice to expedite the unsealing of these documents. The agency noted that much of this information has already been seen by grand juries, so it is largely available to the public.
Kennedy was assassinated at the age of 46 on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder but was killed two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby before he could stand trial. The Warren Commission later concluded that Oswald acted alone, but many conspiracy theories have persisted over the decades.
The push for transparency regarding Kennedy’s assassination gained momentum with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, signed by George H.W. Bush. Despite this, there have been numerous delays in releasing documents, which has fueled speculation about the events surrounding Kennedy’s death.
During his first term, Trump released some documents but withheld a complete disclosure, citing national security concerns. His successor, President Joe Biden, also chose not to release all documents. The National Archives reported that by December 2022, over 97% of the collection of about 5 million pages had been made public.
In 2023, Trump promised to release all JFK assassination files if he were re-elected. After returning to office in January, he signed an order to declassify not only the JFK files but also those related to his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of RFK, is currently serving as Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services.