Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to discuss presidential matters.
According to Daily Mail, the former president revealed plans to release all remaining JFK assassination files totaling 80,000 pages on Tuesday afternoon, marking a significant development in one of America's most enduring mysteries.
The announcement comes after Trump signed an executive order in January to declassify the remaining documents related to President John F. Kennedy's assassination. The massive trove of information has been kept under wraps for decades, with thousands of pages remaining sealed despite previous attempts at disclosure during Trump's first term in office.
Trump emphasized the historical significance of the release while speaking to reporters during his two-hour visit to the Kennedy Center. He insisted on complete transparency, directing officials not to redact any information from the documents.
The former president shared his thoughts on the upcoming release, stating:
We are tomorrow announcing and giving all of the Kennedy files...people have been waiting for decades for this. That's going to be released tomorrow. We have a tremendous amount of paper. You've got a lot of reading.
When asked about his familiarity with the documents' contents, Trump maintained a measured response, acknowledging he had heard about them while describing the release as "interesting."
The documents could potentially shed light on the role of CIA officials in the events surrounding Kennedy's assassination. Recent findings suggest possible connections between CIA operations and Lee Harvey Oswald's activities prior to the shooting.
Last month, Axios revealed the FBI had discovered 2,400 new documents that could provide additional insight into the assassination. These files might contain information about George Joannides, who served as chief of covert action at the CIA's Miami station in 1963.
Jefferson Morley, a leading expert on the assassination, suggests the documents could reveal more about Joannides's involvement with Cuban exile groups that Oswald attempted to infiltrate weeks before the fatal shooting in Dallas.
During his visit, Trump also addressed significant changes in the Kennedy Center's leadership structure. After appointing himself as chair of the cultural arts organization's board, he expressed dissatisfaction with various aspects of the institution.
The former president critiqued the center's $250 million REACH expansion project, questioning the functionality of underground rooms and outdoor structures. He has installed former U.S. ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell as the new helm, along with other loyalists, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President JD Vance's wife Usha Vance on the board.
The planned release of JFK assassination files represents a pivotal moment in American history, with Trump taking decisive action to unveil documents that have remained classified for over six decades. The former president's announcement at the Kennedy Center signals the culmination of decades-long efforts to access these crucial records.
The 80,000 pages of documents will be made public Tuesday afternoon, potentially offering new perspectives on the events surrounding President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963. This comprehensive release follows Trump's executive order to declassify the remaining files, addressing longstanding public interest in understanding one of the most significant events in U.S. history.
