In a significant move that could potentially present new insights into a historic event that has gripped the nation for decades, President Trump announced on Monday that a vast trove of documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy would be released to the public on Tuesday. This release, containing tens of thousands of pages from the JFK assassination files, has been awaited by many who have long sought a deeper understanding of the events surrounding the tragic death of the former president in 1963.
Addressing the audience at the Kennedy Center, President Trump stated, “People have been waiting decades for this.” His words reflect the anticipation and curiosity that has been built up over the years regarding the JFK assassination, one of the most important events in modern American history. Adding more weight to his statement, Trump specified that the material to be released would be “approximately 80,000 pages,” and importantly, he did not expect any of the content to be redacted.
This move by the president aligns with his campaign promise to ensure the release of these records. He stated, “I said during the campaign that I’d do it, and I’m a man of my word,” emphasizing his commitment to transparency and reinforcing the gravity of the impending release.
In the previous month, the FBI had reported the discovery of approximately 2,400 records related to the assassination. This finding was the result of a search initiated by Mr. Trump’s executive action, which ordered the declassification of files related to the 1963 killing. The documents, which have been inventoried and digitized, were previously unrecognized as related to the JFK assassination case file. The FBI, in February, was transferring these records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to be included in the ongoing declassification process. However, the bureau did not disclose the contents of these records, adding an element of suspense to the upcoming release.
In the first week of his presidency, as part of his dedication to transparency, Mr. Trump signed an executive order which called for the declassification of these files. The order also covered files related to the assassinations of his brother Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The directive gave the director of national intelligence and the attorney general 15 days to present a plan to the president for the “full and complete release of records” related to Kennedy’s assassination.
In 1992, Congress passed the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act. This law mandated that all materials related to the assassination be preserved in a single collection within the National Archives and made public. The legislation provided federal agencies with 25 years to process and disclose the documents, with certain exceptions in place. The collection currently housed at the National Archives comprises more than 5 million pages of records, a testament to the extensive documentation of this historical event.
Over the past three decades, the National Archives has progressively made material related to Kennedy’s assassination available to the public. The most recent batch of documents was disclosed in August 2023. The agency announced in December 2022 that more than 97% of records in its Kennedy collection are available to the American people, affirming its commitment to transparency and public access to history.
This move by President Trump to release tens of thousands of documents related to the JFK assassination is both significant and historic. It demonstrates his commitment to transparency, fulfilling a promise made during his campaign. As the public awaits the release of these documents, it is hoped that they will provide new insights and deepen our understanding of the events surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy.
Those interested in learning more about the JFK assassination can explore further through CBS News’ special feature on the subject, which provides additional context and information about this pivotal moment in American history.
This report was compiled by Melissa Quinn, a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. With a focus on U.S. politics, particularly the Supreme Court and federal courts, Quinn has written for various outlets, including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal, and Alexandria Times. Her work continues to shed light on the intricacies of the political landscape in the United States.
