Trump Orders Release of Classified Records on JFK, RFK, and MLK Assassinations
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declassifying the records surrounding the assassinations of three pivotal figures in American history: President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The announcement came via a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), in which Trump was briefed about the executive order before signing it. The order directs the release of files related to the tragic events surrounding the deaths of these iconic figures, promising to bring long-awaited answers to the public.
President @realDonaldTrump signs an Executive Order to declassify the JFK, RFK, and MLK Jr. files! pic.twitter.com/BHHdjMLrl0
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) January 23, 2025
“That’s a big one, huh?” Trump responded when informed about the magnitude of the decision. “A lot of people are waiting for this— for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed,” he added, expressing the weight of the decision and the anticipation that has surrounded these cases for decades.
The executive order emphasizes that more than five decades after the assassinations, the American public and the families of the victims still do not have full access to all the government’s records regarding the events. “It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay,” the order reads. It stresses the importance of transparency and the public’s right to know the truth about these historical tragedies.
Trump had previously promised to release the documents related to these high-profile assassinations, along with other classified records on topics of significant public interest. He had hinted at this declassification as part of his broader effort to “restore transparency and accountability” within the government, a theme he reiterated after signing the order. “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,” he declared.
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
