United States: The Trump administration has unveiled thousands of previously classified files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The long-awaited release possesses digital documents containing intelligence memos, investigative reports, and references to Cold War tensions.
During a visit to the Kennedy Centre, Donald Trump highlighted the significance of the disclosure. Trump stated that, “People have been waiting decades for this.” He credited Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for overseeing the process.
While experts doubt the new documents will alter the official conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the files include references to conspiracy theories linking Oswald to the Soviet Union. A 1964 memo details an interview with a CIA employee about discrepancies in intelligence reports provided to the Warren Commission.
HUGE things are coming to The Kennedy Center. The future is bright! 🇺🇸✨ pic.twitter.com/mQj8pPFp5i
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 18, 2025
Documents from the Department of Defence also shed light on U.S. efforts to counter Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s support for communist movements in Latin America. One file proposes Castro avoided actions that could trigger a direct conflict with Washington but continued backing subversive forces in the region.
Trump had previously ordered the release of JFK-related documents in 2017, when he was in office. His latest move tracks the recent passing of Clint Hill, a Secret Service agent who famously leapt onto Kennedy’s car after he was shot.
The release also comes with renewed scrutiny of historical assassinations. Trump has pledged transparency regarding files related to the 1968 assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now U.S. health secretary, has voiced suspicions about the involvement of intelligence agencies in his father’s and uncle’s deaths.
Despite the anticipation, experts remain sceptical about any major revelations. Larry Sabato, director of the Centre for Politics at the University of Virginia, stated that, “People expecting big things are almost certain to be disappointed.”