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By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
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President Donald Trump signed an order declassifying government files related to the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy Jr., civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
Why It Matters
Trump's decision to declassify the documents comes after he pledged during the presidential campaign that he would release the remaining files.
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"I'm going to release them immediately," the president said on Wednesday. "We're going to see the information. We are looking at it right now."
What To Know
During his first presidential term, Trump authorized the release of tens of thousands of documents related to Kennedy's assassination. But he kept some files classified after the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government agencies said that releasing them could pose national security risks.
Thousands of documents related to Kennedy's assassination were also made available to the public during President Joe Biden's administration.
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Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said in July 2023 that 99 percent of records associated with Kennedy's assassination were available for public consumption through the National Archives and Records Administration. Biden declassified more than 16,000 documents related to the assassination between 2021 and July 2023.
After a Trump aide announced that the president was signing an executive order Thursday ordering the declassification of files related to the assassinations of Kennedy, King, and Robert F. Kennedy, Trump remarked: "That's a big one, huh? A lot of people are waiting for this for a long—for years, for decades."
What Are The JFK Files?
The "JFK files" refers to a trove of thousands of government documents related to Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.
The files consist of investigative reports, memos, communications and other documents related to the government's investigation into the president's death.
Kennedy's assassination and the government's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing him became the source of several conspiracy theories. In response to public demands for more transparency surrounding his death, Congress passed the JFK Records Act of 1992, which mandated that all records related to the assassination be released by October 26, 2017, barring any national security risks.
Trump didn't begin declassifying files related to the investigation until after October 2017, citing concerns about sources and methods being compromised.
What Has Trump Said About The JFK Files?
The president has long said he wants to declassify all of the documents, and those in his orbit have teased the mysterious nature of the records, as well.
Republican strategist Roger Stone said in 2023 that he had spoken to Trump about the files and claimed Trump told him they were "so horrible you wouldn't believe it."
"Even he, Trump, held back 20 percent of the documents," Stone told right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec. "When I had the occasion to ask him about that, I said, 'Why didn't you let it all out?'"
"He said, 'I can't tell you, it's so horrible you wouldn't believe it. Someday you'll find out,'" Stone said. "That was the sum total of it, and he didn't want to talk further about it. He kicked the can down the road to President Joe Biden."
Trump said in Thursday's executive order that he has "now determined that the continued redaction and withholding of information from records pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not consistent with the public interest and the release of these records is long overdue."
"And although no Act of Congress directs the release of information pertaining to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have determined that the release of all records in the Federal Government's possession pertaining to each of those assassinations is also in the public interest," the order said.
When Will The JFK Files Be Released?
Trump's order on Thursday declassified the remaining files but did not make clear when they would be released.
But it did direct the director of national intelligence and attorney general to present a plan within 15 days for the "full and complete release of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy."
What People Are Saying
Michael Smerconish, a radio and television host, wrote on X: "I've long wanted to see the complete JFK and MLK files, but make no mistake, right now, this is the ultimate shiny object."
Cenk Uygur, a left-wing political commentator and fervent Trump critic, praised the executive order, writing on X: "Trump ordering the release of government files on JFK, RFK and MLK assassinations is a great thing. I don't know how much of the real evidence is in there, but I'll take it. And I'd like to remind my friends on the left, releasing the files was originally a left-wing position."
Update 1/23/25, 5:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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