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In a long-awaited move, previously classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy were released on Tuesday. The release follows an order by former President Donald Trump, who, shortly after taking office, directed that the remaining files be made public.
The newly available documents were posted on the website of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), adding to the millions of pages of assassination-related records already declassified over the years.
“We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’ve got a lot of reading,” Trump said while visiting the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Monday. He claimed his administration was releasing 80,000 files, though it’s unclear how many of those were previously disclosed.
What’s in the Newly Released JFK Files?
Researchers estimate that approximately 3,000 records had remained unreleased, either in full or in part, before this latest declassification. Last month, the FBI revealed it had discovered 2,400 new records related to the case, adding to the growing trove of information.
While experts say the documents are unlikely to contain earth-shattering revelations, they still hold significant historical value, offering deeper insights into the assassination and subsequent investigations.
A History of Secrecy and Controversy
Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, during a visit to Dallas, Texas. As his motorcade traveled through Dealey Plaza, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository. Authorities quickly arrested 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald, identifying him as the lone gunman. However, just two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a police transfer, fueling widespread conspiracy theories.
In 1964, the Warren Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson, concluded that Oswald acted aloneand found no evidence of a larger conspiracy. Yet, alternative theories—ranging from CIA involvement to mafia connections and foreign government plots—have persisted for decades.
Decades of Delays in Declassification
In the early 1990s, Congress passed the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, requiring all related government records to be housed at the National Archives and made public by 2017, unless the sitting president granted exemptions for national security reasons.
In 2017, Trump initially promised a full declassification but later withheld some documents, citing potential risks to national security. During President Joe Biden’s administration, additional files were released, but some remained classified until now.
What Happens Next?
While many believe the latest document dump won’t rewrite history, the files will likely reignite public interest in the mystery surrounding JFK’s death. Researchers and historians will now begin combing through the records to determine whether they confirm or challenge the official story.
With conspiracy theories still thriving nearly six decades later, the release of these files may answer some lingering questions—but is unlikely to end the debate altogether.
