President Donald Trump is very keen to declassify the JFK files. On Tuesday, Trump’s administration declassified thousands of documents related to the 1963 assassination of former President John F. Kennedy (JFK), whose death has fuelled at least six decades of conspiracy theories.
About 2,182 PDF documents, comprising about 63,400 pages were declassified on Tuesday evening. These documents were released hours apart and were uploaded to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration’s website.
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Trump had signed an executive order on Jan. 23 with the intention of declassifying documents relating to the assassination of Kennedy, his brother, senator Robert Kennedy, as well as civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK files).
Trump acknowledged that continued withholding of information about Kennedy’s assassination no longer serves the public interest.
“A lot of people were waiting for this . . . for years, for decades,” said Trump at the time of signing the order. “Everything will be revealed.”
The assassination of John F. Kennedy
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy occurred on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, during a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. Kennedy was traveling with his wife, Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife, Nellie. As the motorcade passed the Texas School Book Depository, shots were fired, with two bullets striking Kennedy—one in the upper back and a fatal shot to the head. Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital but was declared dead at 1:00 PM CST.
Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine, was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with the assassination. Oswald was allegedly firing from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. However, two days later, Oswald was shot and killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby while being transferred between jails, preventing him from standing trial.
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The Warren Commission, formed to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone. However, many conspiracy theories emerged, suggesting possible involvement from various groups such as the CIA, organized crime, or others.
Kennedy’s death marked a turning point in U.S. history, causing national shock and grief. His assassination left a lasting impact on American politics and society, and his legacy continues to influence the nation’s discourse and historical reflections.