Recently, the US National Archives released previously classified documents regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a move initiated by then-President Donald Trump shortly after he took office. These records were made available on the National Archives’ website, adding to the extensive collection of over six million pages of documents, photos, films, audio recordings, and artefacts linked to the tragic event.
While Trump’s administration announced the release of approximately 80,000 files, the exact number of newly available documents from the previously released millions remains uncertain. According to researcher estimates, around 3,000 records had yet to be fully disclosed. Furthermore, the FBI reported the discovery of an additional 2,400 records related to the assassination.
Experts who have examined the previously released materials advise that the recent documents might not yield groundbreaking revelations. Nonetheless, public interest continues in uncovering new details surrounding the assassination and its context. Trump’s directive in January called for cooperation from both the national intelligence director and the attorney general to devise a plan for the release of these records.
Kennedy was fatally shot on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. As his motorcade concluded its route, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository, leading to the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, who was identified as the shooter from a sniper’s position. Just two days later, Oswald was murdered by nightclub owner Jack Ruby while being transferred between jails.
In the aftermath of the assassination, the Warren Commission—established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate—concluded that Oswald acted alone, dismissing any evidence of a conspiracy. However, this finding did not quell the multitude of conspiracy theories that have proliferated over the years.
In the early 1990s, legislation mandated that all documents related to the assassination be compiled in one collection at the National Archives, with a deadline for release set for 2017, barring exceptions from the president. During Trump’s tenure, he pledged to make all remaining files public but ultimately withheld some due to perceived risks to national security. Similar releases continued under President Joe Biden, yet certain documents still remain undisclosed.
Kennedy’s assassination remains one of the most scrutinised events in American history, igniting ongoing debates and investigations into the circumstances surrounding that pivotal day.