Trump to Release JFK Assassination Files Without Redactions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump announced that his administration will declassify all remaining files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, with no redactions. The release, scheduled for Tuesday, includes 80,000 documents, though it’s unclear how many are previously unseen. Trump first ordered the declassification in 2017 but withheld some records citing national security concerns. Experts believe the files may shed new light on intelligence operations at the time but likely won’t change the official narrative that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
Trump Orders Full JFK Assassination File Release: Quick Looks
- No More Redactions: Trump confirmed all JFK files will be released unedited on Tuesday.
- 80,000 Documents Declassified: It’s unclear how many are new or previously withheld.
- 2017 Delay Lifted: Trump initially held back some files due to national security risks.
- Oswald and the Soviet Union: Past files revealed CIA surveillance of Oswald in Mexico City before the assassination.
- More than JFK: The declassification also covers files related to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Trump Orders Full Declassification of JFK Assassination Files
Trump: “No Redactions, No Secrets”
President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration will release all remaining files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, removing all previous redactions.
“We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’ve got a lot of reading,” Trump joked while speaking at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
Trump confirmed that the full, unedited release would take place on Tuesday, fulfilling a promise he made during his campaign.
“I said, ‘Just don’t redact. You can’t redact,’” Trump added, suggesting he rejected intelligence requests to withhold information.
What’s in the JFK Files?
The National Archives houses more than 5 million pages of records related to the Kennedy assassination. Over the years, many have been released, but some 3,000 documents remain classified.
- Some files contain CIA memos discussing Oswald’s trip to Mexico City, where he contacted Soviet and Cuban embassies.
- Other records include FBI reports on Oswald’s defection to the Soviet Union and return to the U.S.
- Newly discovered documents: The FBI recently found 2,400 previously unknown records, which are included in this release.
Why Were the JFK Files Previously Withheld?
In 2017, Trump promised to release all assassination records but ultimately delayed the full declassification at the request of U.S. intelligence agencies, citing national security concerns.
- President Joe Biden later approved a phased release, but some files remained classified.
- Researchers believe certain tax records and intelligence reports may still be off-limits.
JFK, RFK, and MLK Files Also Included
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Trump’s top health official, has long questioned the official narratives of both his uncle’s and father’s assassinations.
- Trump handed the executive order pen to RFK Jr., symbolizing the significance of the release.
What We’ve Learned from Past Releases
Some previously declassified records have provided insight into Cold War intelligence operations, including:
- Oswald’s activities in Mexico City before the assassination.
- Intercepted Soviet communications suggesting KGB officials were aware of Oswald’s presence.
- CIA and FBI surveillance operations in the weeks leading up to November 22, 1963.
While new revelations are possible, experts caution that the files are unlikely to provide a “smoking gun” contradicting the official Warren Commission conclusion that Oswald acted alone.
What Happens Next?
With the full release imminent, the files will be available to the public through the National Archives. The disclosure is expected to fuel renewed debate over Kennedy assassination theories and U.S. intelligence secrecy.
For historians and conspiracy theorists alike, this could be the most significant JFK file release in decades.
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