After decades of speculation and secrecy, a massive trove of previously classified documents related to the assassination of President John F Kennedy has been made public. Following a directive from Donald Trump, the National Archives has released over 80,000 pages of unredacted files, allowing historians and the public to scrutinize new details about the case.
The release follows Trump’s announcement at the Kennedy Center in Washington, where he reiterated his commitment to transparency regarding the JFK assassination. ‘So, people have been waiting for decades for this, and I’ve instructed my people…lots of different people, Tulsi Gabbard, that they must be released tomorrow. You got a lot of reading. I don’t believe we’re going to redact anything. I said, “just don’t redact, you can’t redact,”’ the President stated.
The documents, now available on the National Archives’ website, include previously classified intelligence, witness statements, and government records. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard praised the move, calling it ‘a new era of maximum transparency’.
Despite Trump’s insistence on full disclosure, some redactions will remain. According to sources familiar with the release, certain personal information, such as Social Security numbers and identities of intelligence operatives still active in Cuba, will be withheld. Additionally, while the first batch of documents is now public, the release process is expected to take several days due to the sheer volume of records.
Gabbard noted that some files remain sealed under court orders or grand jury secrecy laws but assured the public that the National Archives is working with the Department of Justice to expedite their release. ‘Grand juries from many years ago have already seen them, so most of this information is already out, but regardless of this, this information will be immediately released upon the direction of the Court,’ she added.
The JFK file declassification is part of a broader effort initiated by Trump in January, when he signed an executive order to release records related not only to Kennedy’s assassination but also to those of his brother Robert F Kennedy (RFK) and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr (MLK). Under this directive, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General were required to submit a plan for the JFK files by 7 February, while proposals for releasing the RFK and MLK files were expected by 9 March.
‘When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all JFK assassination-related documents. It’s been 60 years, time for the American people to know the truth’
The JFK files release comes shortly after the Justice Department made public a batch of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in late February. However, those documents contained little new information, leading to widespread criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the case. The controversy has fuelled speculation about whether the RFK and MLK files will contain any groundbreaking revelations.
The FBI has previously stated that Trump’s executive order prompted a fresh review of its archives, uncovering approximately 2,400 additional records that had not been previously recognized as part of the JFK assassination case. The call to declassify JFK assassination files has persisted through multiple administrations. Trump initially pledged to release all documents during his first term but later blocked hundreds of records following appeals from the CIA and FBI.
Trump has continued to campaign on the promise of full disclosure, stating: ‘When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all JFK assassination-related documents. It’s been 60 years, time for the American people to know the truth,’ he announced at the time.
With the release now underway, researchers and the public will finally have the chance to examine one of the most scrutinized events in American history in greater detail than ever before.
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