President Trump signs executive order calling for full disclosure of historic assassination records, fulfilling a campaign promise.
Washington, DC [US], January 24: United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating the declassification of records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Trump stated that it is time for the American people to know the “truth” after decades of secrecy.
Sharing the announcement, the White House noted, “Providing Americans with the truth after six decades of secrecy.”
“The Executive Order establishes the policy that, more than 50 years after these assassinations, the victims’ families and the American people deserve the truth,” the statement added.
Action Plan for Transparency
The executive order directs the Director of National Intelligence and other officials to:
- Present a plan within 15 days for the full and complete release of all John F. Kennedy assassination records.
- Immediately review records relating to the Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations and submit a plan for their full release within 45 days.
History of JFK Record Disclosures
In Trump’s first term, he initiated steps to disclose information about the Kennedy assassination. Under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, all assassination-related records were supposed to be released by 2017 unless postponed by presidential certification for reasons of national security, intelligence, or law enforcement concerns.
“In October 2017 and April 2018 certifications, President Trump directed agencies to reevaluate redactions and disclose any information that no longer warranted withholding,” the White House statement noted.
However, subsequent administrations delayed disclosure. President Joe Biden postponed further releases in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Trump’s Promise to Reveal the Truth
President Trump emphasized that withholding these records is “not in the public interest and is long overdue.” He stated that releasing the documents on the Kennedy and King assassinations would serve the public good.
“When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all JFK assassination-related documents. It’s been 60 years—time for the American people to know the TRUTH!” Trump declared in June 2024.
This action fulfills a long-standing campaign promise made by Trump to declassify assassination records and ensure transparency on these pivotal historical events.
The executive order marks a significant step toward unveiling information that has remained hidden for decades, providing an opportunity for deeper insight into the assassinations that have shaped American history.
Tags: JFK assassination, RFK assassination, MLK assassination, declassification, executive order, US history, transparency, Trump administration
#JFK #RFK #MLK #AssassinationRecords #Declassification #Trump #Transparency #USHistory