 "US President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, US, January 23, 2025. File Image/Reuters")
United States President Donald Trump has ordered the release of thousands of previously classified files related to the assassinations of US President John F Kennedy, US Senator Robert F Kennedy, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The move has again brought back to spotlight some of the most contentious events in modern American history as everyone debates what these files might reveal and why they remained under wraps for so long.
The files, stored for decades under strict government secrecy, are expected to shed new light on lingering questions surrounding the three assassinations, which have fuelled decades of conspiracy theories and public mistrust in official narratives.
Trump stated that the release was driven by a commitment to transparency, a stance that has been both applauded as well as criticised given the sensitive nature of the documents.
Trump’s executive order, signed during the first week of his second term, directs the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to devise a plan to release the remaining classified records on JFK within 15 days and on RFK and MLK within 45 days.
Speaking to reporters, Trump declared, “Everything will be revealed.”
JFK: The lingering mysteries
The assassination of US President John F Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, continues to captivate public interest nearly six decades later. Officially, 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine who had defected to the Soviet Union, was identified as the lone gunman.
However, conspiracy theories have persisted, ranging from involvement by the CIA, the Mafia, and Cuban operatives to speculation about a broader domestic or international conspiracy.
The Warren Commission, established by Kennedy’s successor Lyndon B Johnson , concluded in 1964 that Oswald acted alone. Yet the commission’s findings have been widely criticised for their inconsistencies and omissions.
Subsequent releases of government documents, mandated by the 1992 JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, have provided additional insights but no definitive answers. Researchers estimate that approximately 3,000 documents remain classified, many originating from the CIA.
Among the most intriguing details in previously released files are CIA memos and cables discussing Oswald’s visits to Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City weeks before the assassination.
Additionally, former Secret Service agent Paul Landis’s 2023 memoir added a controversial account, claiming he found an intact bullet on Kennedy’s stretcher, raising questions about the “single bullet theory” central to the Warren Commission’s findings.
RFK: A case for conspiracy?
US Senator Robert F Kennedy, JFK’s younger brother, was assassinated on June 5, 1968, shortly after delivering a victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant, was convicted of RFK’s murder and remains incarcerated. However, questions have persisted about whether Sirhan acted alone or was part of a larger plot.
Witness testimonies and forensic evidence have fuelled speculation about the possibility of a second gunman. Notably, the coroner’s report indicated that RFK was shot at close range from behind, contradicting accounts that placed Sirhan in front of him.
Additionally, some witnesses reported seeing a woman in a polka-dot dress, who allegedly claimed responsibility for the shooting alongside Sirhan.
RFK’s son, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has publicly expressed his belief in a conspiracy , asserting that his father and uncle were both victims of coordinated efforts. He has also criticised the Warren Commission, calling it a “shoddy piece of craftsmanship.”
MLK: A legacy overshadowed by secrecy
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, remains another source of enduring controversy. James Earl Ray, a fugitive who had escaped from prison, pleaded guilty to the killing and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
However, Ray later recanted his confession, claiming he was a scapegoat in a larger conspiracy.
The FBI’s extensive surveillance and harassment of King through its COINTELPRO program have further complicated the narrative. Documents released in recent years reveal the bureau’s efforts to discredit King, including wiretapping his phones and bugging his hotel rooms.
While a select committee investigation in the 1970s found no evidence of FBI complicity in King’s assassination, it did criticise the agency’s handling of the case and its post-assassination investigation.
Adding to the intrigue, key documents related to King’s assassination remain sealed under a 1977 court order until 2027. These include FBI wiretap transcripts and tapes, which may shed light on the bureau’s activities during the final years of King’s life.
What the file release means
Trump’s decision to declassify the remaining files on JFK, RFK, and MLK has reignited debates about government transparency and historical accountability.
While many experts caution against expecting “earth-shattering” revelations, the release could provide valuable insights into the operations of intelligence agencies during the 1960s and the political climate that enabled these tragedies.
Larry Sabato, author of “The Kennedy Half Century,” notes that the secrecy surrounding these files has perpetuated a culture of conspiracy theories. “What are they hiding?” Sabato asks, echoing a sentiment shared by many researchers. Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” argues that without a trial for Oswald, “You’re never going to feel as though the case is really settled.”
The upcoming releases also highlight the broader issue of overclassification in government. Trump has framed the declassification effort as part of his commitment to restoring public trust in government.
At a recent Washington rally, he said his administration would “reverse the overclassification of government documents, and in the coming days, we are going to make public remaining records relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and other topics of great public interest.”
With inputs from agencies