Lisbon, Portugal – President Donald Trump’s announcement of an executive order to declassify remaining files related to three of the most shocking assassinations of the 1960s—President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.—has reignited public intrigue and debate.
AfricaHeadline Reports Team
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The move, fulfilling a long-standing campaign promise, gives federal agencies a timeline to prepare the complete release of the documents, though skepticism remains about whether the revelations will bring clarity or further fuel conspiracy theories.
The release of the JFK assassination files, a process first initiated by Congress in 1992, has been delayed multiple times due to concerns over national security. Trump’s order sets a 15-day deadline for agencies to finalize plans for the full disclosure of the records.
Over 70,000 documents have been released since 2017, and while 99% of JFK-related documents are already public, many believe the remaining files could offer new details, particularly regarding the CIA’s surveillance of Lee Harvey Oswald before the assassination.
However, experts, such as journalist Gerald Posner, caution that the new files are unlikely to contain a “smoking gun,” with conspiracy theorists already questioning their completeness.
The assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. have also left unresolved doubts.
Most RFK-related files were reportedly released in the 1980s, but suspicions persist about the CIA’s potential involvement, especially given animosity between the agency and RFK.
For King, whose family has expressed concerns over the premature release of files, declassified FBI documents have already revealed the agency’s intense surveillance and harassment of the civil rights leader.
These revelations have fueled long-standing allegations of a broader conspiracy in King’s murder, a sentiment shared by some of his close associates, including Andrew Young.
For decades, the deaths of these iconic figures have been surrounded by theories implicating lone gunmen, shadowy government actors, or broader conspiracies. Public opinion remains divided, with surveys consistently showing that more than 50% of Americans believe JFK’s assassination was the result of a conspiracy.
The forthcoming documents may clarify some aspects of these tragedies but are unlikely to satisfy those who question official narratives. As historian Tim Tate remarked, any withheld or destroyed records would only deepen suspicions, leaving the door open for new questions and interpretations.
The public release of these files, expected in the coming weeks, could provide critical insights into some of the most defining moments of 20th-century America—or perhaps deepen the shadows of uncertainty that have loomed for over half a century.