Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 23 mandating the release of classified files related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. The order states, “Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth.” Trump assured reporters, “Everything will be revealed,” calling it “a big one.”
However, researchers doubt all files will be declassified. Agencies like the CIA, FBI, and DEA have resisted such moves, citing risks to informants and national security. A DEA letter from 2018 highlighted concerns about Mafia retaliation, and the Pentagon pointed to nuclear and war-related information within the files.
Millions of records exist, but only a fraction remains classified. Experts warn against expecting major revelations. Larry Sabato noted, “There’s always the possibility… of a much larger iceberg,” though significant findings are unlikely.
