Will the JFK assassination files finally be revealed to the public?
Several documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination on November 22nd, 1963, have already been made public, but we still don’t know everything. President Donald Trump surprised us by signing an executive order to release thousands of previously classified files regarding the murder of the 35th American leader, adding even more fuel to the fire of public curiosity.
While several experts claim we shouldn’t expect any bombshell revelations, Kennedy’s assassination remains one of the most controversial and intriguing subjects in America’s history. The documents set for release could offer fresh insights into the events surrounding that terrible day in Dallas. Will we finally receive the answers we’ve sought in the last decades? We’ll see.
Even though there’s still a lot of mystery regarding JFK’s assassination, one thing’s for sure: the interest in this subject remains unshaken, and Donald Trump’s presidency might shed light on potentially important things. Let’s take a look and see what the leader might help us uncover:
Donald Trump’s order
Donald Trump ordered on 23rd January 2025 to direct the national intelligence director and attorney general to create a plan within 15 days to make the records related to John F. Kennedy’s assassination public. However, we don’t know exactly when we could read these records, but don’t worry; we’ll keep you posted.
The president gave the pen to an aide after signing the order and instructed it to be given to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee for health secretary. The son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of John F. Kennedy, Kennedy Jr. became estranged from many members of his family due to his anti-vaccine stance. He said during an interview that he’s not convinced his uncle was murdered by a single shooter and posted on X that he appreciated the leader’s decision to release the files.
What happened on November 22nd, 1963?
When Air Force One, the popular president and beloved first lady Jackie Kennedy, touched down in Dallas, they were quickly greeted by a huge, passionate crowd. With an upcoming reelection campaign the following year, they headed to Texas on a trip to mend political fences and strengthen connections.
As the motorcade was almost done with its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. The president was struck by two bullets, with the fatal shot hitting his head. The leader was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:00 p.m.
A 24-year-old man named Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine, was arrested and charged with murder after positioning himself from a sniper’s perch on the sixth floor. But before Oswald could stand trial, he was fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby during a jail transfer, two days after the president’s death.
A year after the terrible incident, the Warren Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate, stated they found no evidence regarding a conspiracy and Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. However, the world still has many questions regarding JFK’s assassination, and his death remains one of the most significant and controversial events in American history.
What about the JFK files?
In the early 1990s, the federal government decided to store all the documents related to the 35th president’s assassination in one place: the National Archives. The collection has over 5 million records and was supposed to be opened to the public by 2017 unless the president approved keeping some files secret.
When Donald Trump came to the White House in 2017, he initially promised to release the remaining files. However, he later changed his mind and only released a few documents, citing national security concerns.
After that, nearly 1,500 files were released under Joe Biden’s presidency, but many of them remained classified. The politician said that the release of further sensitive records would have to wait until December 15th, 2022, as they needed further review to protect against potential identifiable harm to law enforcement, intelligence operations, military defense, or the conduct of foreign relations.
According to author and political expert Larry J. Sabato, it’s believed that around 3,000 records are still not fully released. Moreover, sources suggest these documents are related to the CIA.
Moreover, experts suggest that some files in the JFK collection are unlikely to ever be released for various reasons. For example, approximately 500 items, such as tax returns, weren’t included in the 2017 disclosure requirement, so they’re expected to stay classified.
Why did Donald Trump decide to release the confidential files?
During one rally in Washington, D.C., on the eve of his presidential inauguration, he announced that he would release the confidential papers to reflect a return to “transparency and accountability to government.”
The politician then mentioned that his team would reverse the overclassification of government materials. But that’s not all. He also mentioned that he plans on making several other documents public—besides the ones concerning JFK’s assassination—such as files regarding the assassinations of Robert Kennedy, as well as Martin Luther King Jr.
…Do you know any conspiracy theories regarding John F. Kennedy’s assassination? Leave a comment below and let’s see!
Conspiracy theories
According to officials, the Warren Commission’s official government investigation into the JFK assassination was established to address the murder that ended a beloved leader’s life and left the country in shock. Even though they concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted all alone, many people believe it’s not true. Some of them suggest the president’s death is still a mystery and want to know the truth.
In the six decades since President Kennedy’s assassination, there have been a plethora of conspiracy theories, giving rise to several books, websites, and an Oscar-nominated movie. According to Gallup polls conducted over the years, the number of Americans who think that others were part of a plot to assassinate the president has never fallen below 50%.
Even though the committee was unable to identify any conspirators, its final report, published in 1979, concluded that the popular president was “probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.” The idea that there was a second shooter was based on acoustic evidence, which was later contested by a National Academy of Sciences analysis.
Oliver Stone reacted to Donald Trump’s decision
The Oscar-winning “JFK” (1991) director Oliver Stone stated that the president “deserves praise” for his decision to declassify the documents related to Kennedy’s assassination. Many critics consider the film one of the best and most popular cinematographic productions ever made on the subject of JFK’s 1963 assassination, as it contains a piece of America’s history.
…Do you agree with them?
The director then mentioned that while no one expects to see a document that solves anything, these files could help us add more pieces to the puzzle and build a clearer picture of what really happened.
What do you think about Donald Trump’s decision to declassify the JFK files? Are you curious to see what those documents contain? Would you expect to read about that tragic day in Dallas? Leave a comment below and join the conversation! Until next time, here’s another great post from Trending Now to check out: 8 Worst Restaurants in America in 2024
