In a long-awaited move, President Trump and the U.S. government have released tens of thousands of pages of previously classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The release follows an executive order from President Donald Trump, who had pledged to make the files public. Researchers, historians, and conspiracy theorists alike have anticipated this moment, hoping to uncover new insights into one of the most scrutinized political assassinations in modern history.
What’s in the Newly Released JFK Files?
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) uploaded approximately 80,000 pages of documents that were previously available in a redacted form. The new release removes many of those redactions, offering an unfiltered look at intelligence reports, surveillance operations, and previously unknown details surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy’s assassin.
Investigative journalist Jefferson Morley, who has extensively researched the JFK assassination, called this release “the most positive news on JFK files since the 1990s.” However, he and other researchers stress that many key documents remain undisclosed.
The CIA and FBI had long argued that full disclosure could compromise national security, even decades after Kennedy’s assassination. Among the most significant revelations in this batch are details about Oswald’s surveillance in Mexico City, his interactions with Soviet and Cuban officials, and the CIA’s internal discussions on its clandestine activities.
Oswald and the Mexico City Connection
One of the most compelling documents released pertains to Oswald’s time in Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The files detail how Oswald attempted to obtain a visa to return to the Soviet Union and his interactions with Cuban and Soviet intelligence officers. New revelations include the extent of CIA surveillance on Oswald during this time, with technical details about the agency’s monitoring operations coming to light for the first time.
Additionally, the documents confirm the existence of U.S. propaganda operations involving Oswald before and after Kennedy’s death. This suggests that intelligence agencies may have had a more active role in shaping public narratives than previously disclosed.
The CIA’s Role and Internal Concerns
Another significant document now fully available is a memo from Kennedy adviser Arthur Schlesinger Jr., which discusses a potential overhaul of the CIA following the botched Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Schlesinger expressed concerns about the increasing influence of covert CIA operations, particularly how they intersected with the State Department’s diplomatic efforts.
For decades, many have speculated that Kennedy’s dissatisfaction with the CIA contributed to tensions that may have played a role in his assassination. While the newly released files do not provide definitive proof of a conspiracy, they do shed light on the deep mistrust between Kennedy and elements within the intelligence community.
Remaining Files and Unanswered Questions
Despite the extensive release, many records remain classified. Morley estimates that before this release, around 3,500 documents still contained redactions, and only a fraction of those have now been unveiled. Additionally, more than 500 IRS records related to the assassination remain withheld.
Further complicating the picture, the FBI recently discovered an additional 2,400 records related to the assassination, though they were not included in this release. Whether these will be made public remains uncertain.
Why Were These Files Released Now?
The release is part of an ongoing effort to comply with the 1992 JFK Records Act, which mandated the full disclosure of assassination-related documents by 2017. However, both Trump and President Joe Biden postponed full declassification, citing national security concerns. Trump’s recent push to declassify the remaining records was partly influenced by his political alliance with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long advocated for transparency regarding the assassinations of both his uncle and father, Robert F. Kennedy.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next?
The release of these JFK files has been met with both excitement and frustration. While they provide new insights, they also leave many questions unanswered. Researchers continue to call for full transparency, especially regarding documents still sealed due to grand jury secrecy or IRS restrictions.
For those eager to explore the newly available files, they can be accessed through the National Archives’ website. However, some documents remain in hard copy or analog formats and are still being digitized.
As the public combs through these files, the debate over what really happened on November 22, 1963, is far from over. Whether these documents will finally put to rest conspiracy theories surrounding JFK’s assassination or fuel new ones remains to be seen. One thing is certain—after six decades, the quest for the full truth continues.
