Trump orders full release of JFK assassination files, reviving decades-old conspiracy theories

By willowt // 2025-01-28

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President Trump signed an executive order directing the declassification of documents related to the assassinations of JFK, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, potentially shedding new light on historical events.
The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of Operation Northwoods, a Cold War-era Pentagon plan that proposed staging false flag attacks on American soil to justify war with Cuba, raising questions about the motives behind JFK's assassination.
The JFK Records Act of 1992 mandated the release of all documents related to Kennedy's assassination by October 2017, but successive administrations have withheld thousands of pages due to national security concerns.
The order has reignited debates about government transparency and conspiracy theories, with some speculating that the files could reveal evidence of a "Deep State" conspiracy.
Intelligence agencies are expected to push back against the declassification of sensitive materials, potentially delaying or limiting the scope of the release, while historians and the public await new insights into pivotal moments in American history.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the declassification of all remaining documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, reigniting decades-old debates about government transparency and the shadowy forces that may have shaped American history. The move, long anticipated by historians, conspiracy theorists and transparency advocates, could shed new light on one of the most enduring mysteries in U.S. history: the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. The order also includes documents related to the killings of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated during his presidential campaign that same year. "A lot of people are waiting for this for a long time—for years, for decades," Trump said during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. "And everything will be revealed." The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of Operation Northwoods, a chilling Cold War-era Pentagon plan that proposed staging false flag attacks on American soil to justify a war with Cuba. The plan, which was rejected by President Kennedy, has long fueled speculation about the motives behind his assassination and the role of the so-called "Deep State" in shaping U.S. policy.

Operation Northwoods: A dark chapter in U.S. history

Operation Northwoods, a 12-page document signed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1962, outlined a series of covert operations designed to incite public support for military intervention in Cuba. The plan included proposals to stage terrorist attacks in U.S. cities, sink American ships and even kill U.S. soldiers—all while blaming the communist regime of Fidel Castro. "We could develop a Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities, and even in Washington," the document stated. Another proposal suggested blowing up a U.S. ship in Guantanamo Bay and blaming Cuba, with the expectation that "casualty lists in U.S. newspapers would cause a helpful wave of national indignation." The plan was part of a broader effort to overthrow Castro, who had established Cuba as the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. The failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the subsequent Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 heightened tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, leading to covert operations like Operation Mongoose, a CIA initiative to destabilize Castro's government. Kennedy's rejection of Operation Northwoods has led some to speculate that his assassination in 1963 was orchestrated by elements within the U.S. government or intelligence community. While no evidence has ever proven such claims, the release of the JFK files could provide new insights into the political climate of the time and the motivations of those involved.

The JFK files: A decades-long quest for answers

The JFK Records Act of 1992 mandated the release of all documents related to Kennedy's assassination by October 2017. However, successive administrations, including Trump's first term and President Joe Biden's tenure, have withheld thousands of pages, citing national security concerns. Trump's order directs the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to present a plan for the "full and complete release" of the JFK files within 15 days. Records related to the assassinations of King and Robert F. Kennedy must be addressed within 45 days. Jefferson Morley, a former Washington Post journalist and editor of the JFK Facts newsletter, called the order a "statement of intention" but cautioned that the details of implementation will be critical. "This process is just beginning," Morley said. "How exactly this is going to be carried out is not at all clear." Recent document releases have already revealed new details about the assassination, including the CIA's extensive monitoring of Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of killing Kennedy. In 2023, former Secret Service agent Paul Landis claimed he retrieved a bullet from Kennedy's car, complicating the official "single bullet theory" that one shot struck both Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally.

Conspiracy theories and public skepticism

Kennedy's assassination has long been a magnet for conspiracy theories, with polls showing that a majority of Americans do not believe Oswald acted alone. Allegations of CIA involvement, mafia connections and foreign interference have persisted for decades, fueled by redactions and delays in the release of government documents. Trump's order has reignited these debates, with some speculating that the files could reveal evidence of a "Deep State" conspiracy. "If you think the release of JFK files will put the long-standing conspiracy theories about his assassination to rest, just wait for the deluge of conspiracy theories about the release of the files," wrote BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh on X. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the president's nominee for health secretary and a vocal critic of the official narratives surrounding his uncle's and father's deaths, was present at the signing ceremony. Trump handed him the pen used to sign the order, a symbolic gesture underscoring the Kennedy family's enduring quest for answers.

What happens next?

While Trump's order marks a significant step toward transparency, it does not guarantee the immediate release of all documents. Intelligence agencies are expected to push back against the declassification of sensitive materials, potentially delaying or limiting the scope of the release. For historians and the public, the declassification represents an opportunity to confront the darker chapters of U.S. history and reassess the legacy of one of the nation's most beloved presidents. As Morley noted, "This story is not over." The release of the JFK files may not provide a definitive answer to who killed John F. Kennedy, but it will undoubtedly deepen the public's understanding of the forces that shaped one of the most pivotal moments in American history. Sources include: DailyMail.com BBC.com NewsWeek.com