Trump prioritizes release of JFK, RFK, and MLK assassination files

In the United States, on January 23, 2025, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order seeking transparency regarding the assassination records of notable figures such as John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. This executive order arose from longstanding public interest in the classified documents concerning these assassinations. According to a recent survey, a substantial majority of Americans believe that the release of these documents could reveal significant new information and shed light on the circumstances surrounding these historic events. Trump's executive order mandates that government officials, including the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General, devise a plan for declassifying these records within a strict timeline of 15 days. The urgency of this timeline reflects the increasing pressure from the public and various advocacy groups seeking an end to the redaction and withholding of information related to these high-profile assassinations. In a further commitment to transparency, Trump stated that the continued withholding of such information does not align with the public interest, emphasizing that the release is long overdue. The JFK Act of 1992 had previously established a framework for the declassification of assassination-related records, granting the now-dissolved Assassination Records Review Board specific powers to ensure transparency. This included the authority to determine if a record was assassination-related and compel agencies to search for additional documents. However, the dissolution of this board has led to over 3,500 outstanding records remaining locked away, primarily within the Central Intelligence Agency. Certain documents, such as those detailing the CIA's investigations immediately following Kennedy's assassination, remain classified even though they might hold significant insights into the events of 1963. Trump's administration is now urged to consider reinstating a similar independent review board to facilitate the thorough review and determination of additional assassination-related documents. Such measures would ensure that the declassification process is genuinely transparent and independent of conflicting interests within government agencies. Many Americans suspect that intelligence agencies had deeper involvements in these assassinations, further fueling the call for declassification and public access to these historical records. Ultimately, the forthcoming actions will determine whether the American public will finally have clarity regarding these pivotal moments in their nation's history.