Just days after his inauguration, President Trump ordered the release of documents related to the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK, a move supported by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite previous concerns, Trump’s action aims to promote transparency while fueling conspiracy theories. Public skepticism remains high, particularly regarding JFK’s assassination, with many doubting the official narrative. Various theories explore potential organized crime and CIA involvement, reflecting deep-seated distrust within American society.
Just three days following his inauguration on January 23, President Trump declared that he had instructed intelligence agencies to make public all documents pertaining to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Although he had previously expressed concerns about the publication during his first term, he did not take further action on the matter at that time.
“This is monumental,” Trump remarked as he signed the executive order, which received backing from the newly appointed Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The son of the assassinated Robert “Bobby” Kennedy emphasized, “The sixty-year legacy of deception and secrecy has accelerated the erosion of our exemplary democracy and set us on a path towards totalitarianism.”
Former President Joe Biden also pursued efforts for declassification and acted upon a court ruling from 1992 that mandated the release of all Kennedy-related files by 2017. As of now, 99 percent of the nearly 320,000 documents have been made available to the public.
Public Skepticism Surrounding the “JFK” Assassination
The American populace is keenly anticipating the forthcoming announcement, particularly in relation to John F. Kennedy’s case. The recent attempts on Trump’s life have reignited interest in the JFK assassination, which continues to stir fresh inquiries and conjectures even after more than sixty years.
A Gallup survey conducted in 2023 revealed that 65 percent of Americans doubt the official narrative that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Through his executive order, Trump skillfully positions himself as a champion for transparency while simultaneously fostering conspiracy theories by implying that critical information remains undisclosed. This strategy resonates with his ongoing skepticism towards the intelligence community, the so-called “Deep State,” and the entrenched interests in Washington. Furthermore, it appeals to a substantial segment of his supporter base inclined towards conspiracy theories, including QAnon followers.
Upon further inspection, the executive order does not guarantee the release of all pertinent archives, leaving the timeline ambiguous. This vagueness could allow him to keep the supposed scandal alive for an extended period.
“Could There Be More to the Story?”
Some scholars argue that the deep-seated polarization in America traces back to Kennedy’s assassination and the ensuing distrust of intelligence agencies, as well as Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, whom many Americans associated with the assassination. The concept of a “state within a state” became widely discussed during that era, resonating across the political spectrum. Historian Stephen Fagin posits that JFK’s death marked the dawn of conspiracy theories in American culture.
Trump himself has flirted with dubious claims regarding the Kennedy assassination. During his 2016 campaign, he suggested that the father of Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a competitor in the primaries, had ties to Oswald. This assertion was later shown to be supported by manipulated images from the Trump-aligned tabloid “National Enquirer.”
Following the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, various conspiracy theories emerged. Some Democrats speculated that Trump himself orchestrated the event to portray himself as a martyr, while Republicans, including Trump, hinted at an “inside job” orchestrated by intelligence agencies. “It raises suspicion,” Trump remarked. “The more you investigate, the more you begin to think: Could there be more behind it?”
This inherent distrust reflected in his statement fuels both genuine inquiries and conspiracy theories. This delicate balance between legitimate skepticism and paranoia characterizes the ongoing investigations into the assassinations of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr.
Connections Between Kennedy and Organized Crime
On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in an open limousine in Dallas. He was struck by two bullets, one in the neck and another in the head. Shortly after the shooting, investigators apprehended Lee Harvey Oswald, who denied any involvement, claiming he was merely a scapegoat. Two days later, Oswald was shot dead by Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner, who himself passed away in 1967.
Questions linger as to how Ruby was able to access the police station so easily. What motivated Oswald and Ruby? These issues, compounded by poorly executed investigations, suppressed evidence, a lack of transparent information, and conflicting statements, quickly gave rise to numerous alternative theories. The core question remains: Did Oswald and Ruby act independently, or were they part of a larger conspiracy? If so, who orchestrated it? The CIA, the Mafia, or even Russia? Thousands of books and films have delved into this topic, blurring the lines between research and fiction. The narrative of JFK has evolved into a quintessential American myth.
A prevalent theory posits that both Oswald and Ruby were acting on behalf of the Mafia. Kennedy had previously associated with organized crime figures but later took a strong stance against them. His brother, Robert F. Kennedy, serving as Attorney General during John F. Kennedy’s presidency, aggressively targeted organized crime. From this perspective, the assassination could be seen as revenge for Kennedy’s perceived betrayal. Ruby’s connections to Mafia circles raised further questions: Was he sent to eliminate Oswald, who was allegedly hired by the Mafia, to destroy evidence? However, no definitive links between Oswald and the Mafia have been established, leading to further inquiries about why Ruby did not act against Oswald immediately after the assassination.
Speculations of CIA Involvement and International Conspiracies
Another theory suggests a conspiracy involving the CIA, stemming from tensions between the agency and President Kennedy. This friction was notably evident during the Bay of Pigs invasion, where exiled Cubans, aided by the CIA, attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro in 1961. The failure of this operation was a significant foreign policy blunder that nearly escalated into nuclear conflict between the USA and the Soviet Union. Some speculate that the CIA feared Kennedy intended to disband the agency. However, the risks of such a conspiracy being uncovered were immense, and it seems improbable that the CIA would employ a figure like Oswald for such a high-profile assassination.
Some theories even suggest that the assassination was a form of retaliation by communist forces, either from the Soviet Union or Cuba. In the case of Cuba, it could have been revenge for the attempted assassination of Castro; in the case of the Soviet Union, it might have been retribution for the humiliation suffered during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Soviets were forced to withdraw their nuclear missiles from Cuba in 1962. Notably, Oswald was a communist sympathizer who had lived in the Soviet Union and was married to a Russian woman. Yet, once again, the complexities surrounding his role leave many questions unanswered.