Staff ReportsPresident Trump has taken the bull by the horns and unleashed what could be a Pandora’s box of historical revelations by declassifying files related to some of America’s most high-profile assassinations: those of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For those keeping score, it’s about time the truth gets the chance to speak fully after decades of silence from the government.
Despite the excited fans of conspiracy theories clapping their hands in glee, many Americans are left scratching their heads wondering why it took so long for any government official to pull back the curtain on these tragic events that have haunted the nation for more than half a century. The executive order is straightforward: the director of National Intelligence has just 15 days to put together a plan for the JFK files and 45 days for the RFK and MLK files. The sense of urgency is a bit rich coming from a government that has historically preferred to bury secrets rather than shed light on them.
President Trump Orders Historic Transparency: JFK, RFK, and MLK Files to be Declassified
“This is a big one. A lot of people have been waiting for this for years, for decades. Everything will be revealed.” –President Trump pic.twitter.com/iYfF7huHj9
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 23, 2025
The government has had over five decades to sift through these records. One would think that anyone involved directly in the assassination of a president or a prominent civil rights leader would have long since shuffled off this mortal coil. Hence, the fervor for secrecy feels less like a protective measure and more like a method of shielding incompetence or even something more sinister. Why the delay? The idea that preserving the identities of informants in old organized crime cases is too important stands out as laughable when considering the monumental historical significance of the information that could come to light.
Everyone loves a good conspiracy, but the government’s constant stalling has been a gift to conspiracy theorists feeding off history’s biggest unsolved mysteries. The more the government drags its feet, the more elaborate the theories become, ultimately leaving the truth lost in a mire of speculation and hysteria. It’s hard to convince a nation that it can trust the accounts of its own history when those stories remain shrouded in mystery for decades.
Polling suggests that skepticism runs rampant in the American populace—only 29% of Americans currently believe that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of president Kennedy. The larger fraction, a whopping 65%, is convinced there was a conspiracy at play. What does that say about trust in the government when the public is left to fill the gaps with wild speculation?
While Truth-Seeker-in-Chief, Joe Biden, made a half-hearted attempt in 2021 to review JFK files, it appears to have fallen into the abyss that usually swallows administrative priorities. With numerous agencies fighting tooth and nail to keep the veil over the records, Americans could be forgiven for thinking they are up against an impenetrable entity. The idea that organized crime played a significant role in the assassination only adds fuel to the already roaring conspiracy fire.
As the anticipation builds for the unveiling of these documents, the looming question remains: what will the revealed truth look like? Whether it’s corruption, foreign spies, or the Mafia pulling strings from the shadows, much is at stake. The government’s lack of transparency could result in further long-term damage that undermines the American public’s faith in its leadership. Until these documents see the light of day, speculation will reign supreme, and the thirst for answers will only grow more fervent.
