Trump Promises Release of Classified Assassination Records
Donald Trump, the President-elect, has announced intentions to declassify a trove of government documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. During a victory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Trump emphasized a commitment to reversing the overclassification of such documents, arguing that this move would be a pivotal step toward enhancing transparency and accountability within the government.
Trump stated, "It's all going to be released, Uncle Sam," as he addressed supporters gathered to celebrate his election win. The assassinations of Kennedy in 1963, Robert Kennedy in 1968, and King in the same year have long been steeped in speculation regarding possible involvement by clandestine elements within the U.S. government.
In a significant move, Trump has chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of Senator Robert Kennedy, to serve as the Secretary of Health in his upcoming administration. Kennedy Jr. has been an outspoken advocate for the full disclosure of government materials connected to these historical tragedies, even suggesting that the CIA might have played a role in his uncle's death.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) currently holds over five million records pertaining to President Kennedy's assassination. A federal mandate established in the 1990s called for nearly complete public access to these records by October 2017, although the president retains the authority to impose exemptions. The process of declassification has been ongoing since Trump's first term and continued under his successor, Joe Biden. However, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 documents remain undisclosed.
During his initial term, Trump had also pledged to release related documents, and while he did authorize the release of some, he ultimately withheld a considerable number, citing national security concerns and yielding to pressures from agencies such as the CIA and FBI. In his latest announcement, Trump did not clarify which specific documents would be made public, nor did he offer a blanket commitment to declassify all materials.
Coincidentally, Trump's inauguration is scheduled for January 20, which aligns with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring King's legacy and contributions to civil rights reforms in the 1960s, observed on the third Monday of January each year. In his address, the incoming president indicated plans to sign several executive orders addressing various policies immediately upon taking office.
