On Thursday, January 23, 2024, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating the disclosure of thousands of classified documents pertaining to three high-profile U.S. assassinations, a move that drew strong criticism from Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy.
The executive order states: “In the more than 50 years since the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Federal Government has yet to release all related records to the public. These individuals’ families, along with the American people, are entitled to full transparency and truth. Releasing all records related to these assassinations without delay serves the national interest.”
Trump’s announcement fulfills a promise he made during his reelection campaign, despite previous hesitation due to concerns raised by intelligence agencies. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday, January 22, Trump indicated his intent to promptly release the documents, stating, “I’m going to release them immediately. We’re going to see the information. We are looking at it right now.”
The move was publicly criticized by JFK’s sole grandson, Jack Schlossberg, a notable figure in the Democratic party. On social media platform X, Schlossberg commented, “The truth is a lot sadder than the myth — a tragedy that didn’t need to happen.” Schlossberg, a lawyer and journalist, accused Trump of politically exploiting his grandfather’s death. He wrote, “Declassification is using JFK as a political prop when he’s not here to punch back. There’s nothing heroic about it.” He further criticized the move, suggesting it could fuel conspiracy theories by encouraging unnecessary speculation about the assassination.
According to the order, the Director of National Intelligence appointed by Trump must create a strategy for releasing the remaining JFK documents. During the Oval Office signing ceremony, Trump commented, “That’s a big one, huh?” and requested the signing pen be given to RFK Jr. He added, “A lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time… for years, for decades. Everything will be revealed.”
The order gives intelligence officials 45 days to devise plans for releasing records related to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., extending the scope beyond just the JFK files.
Trump noted that his previous reluctance to release the documents was due to pressure from his former CIA Director and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who argued against public disclosure. Trump suggested that Pompeo’s concerns indicated he had access to sensitive information that justified keeping the records classified at the time. The CIA and FBI also contended that some documents included sensitive material and should remain classified to safeguard critical national security interests.
While a vast number of pages about the JFK assassination have already been disclosed, several thousand documents remain in the archives. Recent disclosures include CIA cables and memos documenting Lee Harvey Oswald’s visits to Cuban and Soviet embassies in Mexico City, Mexico, weeks before the assassination. These documents shed light on Oswald’s activities leading up to November 22, 1963, when he allegedly shot JFK from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, Texas.
The declassification has revealed a clear family divide. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a strong advocate for the release, alleging “overwhelming evidence that the CIA was involved in his murder” and arguing his uncle was targeted for refusing to commit U.S. forces to the Vietnam War. This position starkly contrasts with his nephew Schlossberg’s dismissal of conspiracy theories as baseless speculation. The CIA has consistently denied any involvement in the assassination, asserting that Oswald was not an agent of theirs.
On that tragic day in Dallas, President Kennedy was in an open motorcade with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally when gunshots were heard in Dealey Plaza. Oswald was arrested shortly afterward, but he was shot dead two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby in a moment broadcast live on television, adding another layer of intrigue to an event that has fascinated the American public for over six decades.
Experts who have analyzed previously released documents are of the view that the remaining files are unlikely to contain information that would significantly change the accepted narrative of events. Nonetheless, amateur investigators continue to examine every new piece of information, hoping to find evidence that might support or debunk the various theories that have persisted since that November day in Dallas.