Trump releases more than 2,000 new JFK assassination files: What we know

The Release of JFK Assassination Documents: A Step Toward Transparency

On Tuesday, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump took a significant step toward transparency by declassifying thousands of documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK). The release of these documents, which totaled 2,182 PDF files comprising approximately 63,400 pages, was uploaded to the website of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. The files were released in two batches, just hours apart, marking a long-awaited moment for historians, researchers, and conspiracy theorists alike. Many of the documents were handwritten or typewritten, offering a glimpse into the past that could shed light on one of the most enduring unsolved mysteries in American history.

The decision to release these documents was part of an executive order signed by Trump on January 23, which also included files related to the deaths of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Trump announced the release during a speech at the Kennedy Center on Monday, stating that the documents would be made public the following day. While the release was highly anticipated, it is important to note that not all JFK-related documents have been declassified. Historians and researchers will likely need months to sift through the new information and interpret its significance.

The Assassination of John F. Kennedy: A Nation in Mourning

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. At just 46 years old, Kennedy was struck down while riding in an open-top car in a motorcade through the city. His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was by his side, along with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, Nelly Connally. The attack also wounded Governor Connally. Following Kennedy’s death, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president.

The assassination sent shockwaves across the nation and the world. In the aftermath, President Johnson established the Warren Commission, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, to investigate the killing. The commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine and self-proclaimed communist, acted alone in shooting Kennedy from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building. However, this conclusion has been met with widespread skepticism over the years, fueling decades of conspiracy theories.

Oswald’s own fate further complicated the narrative. Just two days after the assassination, while being transferred from police headquarters to the county jail, Oswald was shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby. The fact that Oswald was silenced before he could stand trial has led many to speculate about a larger conspiracy involving government agencies, organized crime, or foreign actors.

The Enduring Legacy of Conspiracy Theories

The Warren Commission’s conclusion that Oswald acted alone has never been universally accepted. A Gallup poll conducted in November 2023 revealed that even 60 years after the assassination, two-thirds of Americans believe that Oswald had accomplices. This skepticism has been fueled by the withholding of key documents related to the assassination for decades, which has cast doubt on the official narrative.

One of the most intriguing pieces of evidence often cited by conspiracy theorists is Oswald’s own statement: “I’m just a patsy!” captured on video as he was being held in custody. Many interpret this as Oswald claiming he was a scapegoat, suggesting that he was not the mastermind behind the assassination. Additionally, the so-called “magic bullet” theory—proposed by the Warren Commission to explain how a single 6.5-millimeter bullet could have killed Kennedy and wounded Governor Connally—has been widely dismissed as implausible. The Zapruder film, a chilling 26-second home movie capturing the assassination, further complicates the narrative. Frame 313 of the film, which shows the fatal shot to Kennedy’s head, was not made public until 1975, raising questions about why such evidence was withheld for so long.

Declassification Efforts: Progress and Remaining Questions

While the release of the JFK documents represents a major step forward in transparency, it is important to note that not all files related to the assassination have been declassified. Before Tuesday’s release, approximately 3,500 documents remained redacted, according to Jefferson Morley, vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing records related to the assassination. Of these, about 2,000 were released, leaving many questions unanswered.

The declassification process has been a long and contentious one. In 2017, during Trump’s first term, he released 2,800 JFK files but withheld hundreds of others at the urging of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In 2023, President Joe Biden released approximately 17,000 more documents. However, the FBI recently revealed that it had discovered an additional 2,400 records related to the assassination, which were not included in the latest release. This has left many wondering how much more information remains classified and why.

The Ongoing Quest for Answers

The release of these documents has sparked renewed interest in the JFK assassination, with historians, journalists, and conspiracy theorists alike eagerly examining the new information. While it may take months or even years to fully understand the implications of these files, they offer a rare opportunity to reexamine one of the most pivotal moments in American history. For those who believe in transparency and accountability, the declassification of these documents is a