Trump's declassification directive exposes JFK, RFK, MLK assassination record

On Jan. 25, 2025, President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign commitment and signed an executive order declassifying the remaining federal records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy; Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. After decades of speculation and conspiracy theories, will these files provide clarity? Will the families and the public finally have all their questions answered?

The executive order directs the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to present a plan within 15 days for the full release of all records related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The next phase of the directive calls for an immediate review of the records concerning the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., with a plan for their full release to be submitted within 45 days. The final declassification and public release will depend on the completion of these reviews, with no set release date yet. The extra time will also give the families an opportunity to prepare mentally and emotionally for potential shocking revelations, if any.

Documents declassified earlier revealed a previously unknown connection among the three assassinations: All three individuals had been under surveillance by the FBI due to their political activities and associations. The documents detailed extensive monitoring of the three men, including wiretaps and informant reports, highlighting the government's deep concerns about their influence and potential threats to national security.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of the late senator and nephew of President Kennedy, voiced his approval of President Trump’s decision to initiate the declassification process. He stated, "I think it's a great move, because they need to have more transparency in our government, and he's keeping his promise to have the government tell the truth to the American people about everything." President Trump requested that the pen used to sign the order be given to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

On the other hand, Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, criticized the decision. He remarked, “Declassification is using JFK as a political prop, when he's not here to punch back. There's nothing heroic about it. The truth is a lot sadder than the myth-a tragedy that didn't need to happen. Not part of an inevitable grand scheme."

The family of Martin Luther King, Jr. expressed a desire to review the files before their public release, emphasizing the personal nature of the loss and the importance of preserving Dr. King's legacy. In a statement released to the press, the King family stated, “The assassination of our father is a deeply personal family loss that we endured over the last 56 years.” The King family expressed hope to be given a chance to review the files as a family before the public release of the documents.

Experts warn that the released files may not reveal any groundbreaking new information. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with being the lone gunman in the assassination of President Kennedy, then was himself shot to death on Nov. 24, 1963, two days after the president’s death. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty and was convicted for the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was shot on April 4, 1968, while Sirhan Sirhan was found guilty of first-degree murder in the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was shot on June 5, 1968. Despite these official conclusions, ongoing public fascination and a range of conspiracy theories suggest that the complete truth may still remain out of reach.

While the documents may not provide all the answers, they should contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the assassinations of these influential figures.