Trump Makes History, Follows Through on Campaign Promise

The Trump Administration has released 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files, fulfilling a promise to unseal decades of government secrets while some documents remain heavily redacted despite claims of complete transparency.

Quick Takes

The National Archives has released 80,000 pages of previously-unseen JFK assassination files following President Trump’s directive.
President Trump instructed files be released without redactions, though some personal information and details about “live assets in Cuba” remain protected.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard praised the move as advancing “maximum transparency” in government.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna have applauded the release and requested further briefings.
The files contain details about Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities, including a document noting he was considered a “poor shot” and alleged contacts with Cuban and Soviet intelligence.

Decades-Long Secrecy Ends With Massive Document Release

After nearly six decades of speculation and secrecy surrounding President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Trump administration has made public 80,000 pages of previously classified documents. The release fulfills a promise that multiple administrations have made but failed to fully deliver. The files, now accessible through the National Archive’s website, include handwritten notes and typewritten reports, many of which are old, faded, and challenging to read. While the Biden administration had released some documents during his term, President Trump’s directive aims to provide a more comprehensive disclosure to the American public.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed the release was happening according to Trump’s instructions. Some documents remain sealed due to court orders or grand jury secrecy requirements, though efforts are underway to have these unsealed as well. The sheer volume of materials means the complete release will take several days to process fully. Despite previous administration promises, this marks the most substantial release of JFK-related materials in US history.

President Trump is ushering in a new era of maximum transparency. Today, per his direction, previously redacted JFK Assassination Files are being released to the public with no redactions. Promises made, promises kept. https://t.co/UnG1vkgxjX pic.twitter.com/XBbkQfz4Bx

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 18, 2025

Transparency Claims and Continuing Redactions

While the Trump administration announced the files would be released without redactions, examination of the documents reveals that many still contain significant redactions. Trump had previously blocked the release of some records in 2017 following appeals from the CIA and FBI, raising questions about what information remains protected. The current release comes with specific exceptions for personal information and details about what officials describe as “live assets in Cuba.” This apparent contradiction between the promise of complete transparency and the reality of continued redactions has fueled further speculation among researchers.

Historians have tempered expectations about major revelations from these files but anticipate additional details that could enhance our understanding of the events surrounding Kennedy’s assassination. The documents contain information about Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities and alleged contacts with Cuban and Soviet intelligence. One particularly interesting document characterizes Oswald as a “poor shot,” which raises questions about the official narrative of his role as the lone assassin. Another document contains a letter from a Russian citizen claiming he warned US officials about Oswald’s intentions months before the assassination occurred.

Congressional Support and Broader Transparency Initiative

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Representative Anna Paulina Luna have publicly praised the Trump Administration for the release. Luna, who leads a task force on declassification of federal secrets, has suggested there might have been “two shooters” involved in Kennedy’s assassination. The release is part of a broader Republican initiative to make public various government secrets, including those related to Jeffrey Epstein, UFOs, and other historical events that have generated significant public interest or controversy over the years.

Trump signed Executive Order 14176 to declassify files not only on JFK’s assassination but also on the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Chairman Comer and Rep. Luna have requested a formal briefing on the documents related to this Executive Order. The White House has suggested that Americans would be “shocked” by some of the revelations contained in these files, though the full impact of the release will only become clear as researchers and historians analyze the substantial volume of newly available information in the coming weeks and months.