The files relating to John F. Kennedy’s assassination have long remained classified. However, as newly sworn in president Donald Trump orders their release, they may no longer be kept under wraps.
Having sworn into office this week, US President Trump signed an executive order yesterday (23 January) mandating the release of classified files related to the 1963 assassination of JFK, as well as that of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Government officials have said these files were initially classified in order to protect national security interests, intelligence sources, and ongoing investigations. And people have long wondered just why they are kept secret as the assassination has fuelled conspiracy theories over the decades.
President Trump signed the order on Thursday (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
“More than 50 years after the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert F Kennedy, and the Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, the federal government has not released to the public all of its records related to those events,” the executive order stated.
“Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth. It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay.”
Trump told reporters ‘everything will be revealed’ as he called the order ‘a big one’.
He had long promised to make the remaining batches of documents on JFK’s assassination public, but researchers don’t believe he’s going to be able to release them all.
The CIA and FBI appealed against a similar pledge when he was first in office and the agencies have previously argued that revealing informants’ identities could pose a risk to individuals.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also shared these concerns. In a 2018 letter to the Archives, it laid out how the Mafia’s violent history justifies secrecy being kept.
JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. (Bettmann/Getty Images)
“Given the well-documented propensity for violence by the Mafia, it is reasonable to expect the individuals, if alive, remain in significant danger of retaliation,” the DEA wrote.
Plus, the Department of Defence and State Department have cited national security concerns. And on top of that, the Pentagon has insisted that some of the classified documents contain nuclear information, sensitive war plans and intelligence unrelated to the assassination.
There are millions of government records related to JFK’s assassination and only a few thousands are not fully declassified. And many of those who have studied the released documents say that the public shouldn’t expect some kind of ground-breaking revelations.
“There’s always the possibility that something would slip through that would be the tiny tip of a much larger iceberg that would be revealing,” Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics and author of The Kennedy Half-Century told The Guardian.
“That’s what researchers look for. Now, odds are you won’t find that but it is possible that it’s there.”
Featured Image Credit: Bettmann Archives/Getty Images
Topics: Conspiracy Theory, Donald Trump, US News, Politics
Jess Battison
Donald Trump revealed reason why he’s never drunk a drop of alcohol
Donald Trump doesn’t drink alcohol and said his brother Fred was the reason
Returning US president Donald Trump does not drink alcohol, and he has spoken about the reason why.
Being the leader of a country is one of those jobs where the occupant would probably be advised not to drink heavily, especially since while drunk Richard Nixon allegedly ordered a tactical nuclear strike on North Korea in response to a US spy plane being shot down in April 1969.
Despite the order to launch nukes supposedly being given by their commander in chief, Nixon’s aides decided instead to wait until the next morning when he’d sobered up.
On another occasion in 1973 Nixon was so drunk that he was incapable of speaking to UK prime minister Ted Heath over the phone.
While visiting the White House in 1995, then-Russian president Boris Yeltsin reportedly got so drunk that secret service agents found him standing on Pennsylvania Avenue in nothing but his underwear trying to flag down a taxi and demanding a pizza.
Trump has said in the past that his brother is the reason why he never drank alcohol (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
While some US presidents have been teetotal in office, such as George W Bush and Jimmy Carter, Donald Trump has said that he has always been teetotal and not drunk alcohol.
Speaking to the Washington Post back in 2019, he explained that his brother Fred’s death at the age of 42 from a heart attack caused by alcohol abuse had convinced him not to drink.
He said he told his older brother he was ‘wasting your time’ with alcohol and since regrets ‘having put pressure on him’, having tried to persuade him to give up his dream of being a pilot to run the family business.
He explained that seeing the physical toll drinking took on his brother also put him off touching booze.
“He was so handsome, and I saw what alcohol did to him even physically… and that had an impact on me, too,” Trump had said, telling his interviewer he might not be around if he drank alcohol.
“Let’s say I started drinking, it’s very possible I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”
Like some other previous US presidents, Trump does not drink alcohol (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Instead of alcohol, Donald Trump’s drink of choice is a Diet Coke.
That reputed ‘Diet Coke button’ you might have heard about isn’t quite true, he can’t just press a button that makes someone come in and bring him a Diet Coke.
Instead there’s a button to call someone into the Oval Office which Trump mainly used to make people bring him a can.
In addition to changing the Oval Office décor, Trump has made some significant executive orders in the opening days of his presidency, including pulling the US out of the World Health Organization and pardoning around 1,500 people who took part in the insurrection against the US capitol in 2021.
He has also ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed to the Gulf of America, declared a state of emergency at the US border with Mexico and signing an executive order which declares ‘capital punishment is an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens’.
Featured Image Credit: Melina Mara-Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Alcohol, US News
Joe Harker
Photo shows moment bullet narrowly missed Donald Trump in assassination attempt
It’s been dubbed as one of the ‘craziest photos ever’
Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt when a bullet narrowly missed his head on Saturday (13 July).
The former US president was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania after several gunshots from a member of the crowd were aimed at the 78-year-old.
Watch below:
A bloodied Trump said he was shot in the ear as secret service agents rushed to his aid.
The Republican was then flown away to New Jersey after visiting a local Pennsylvania hospital.
Taking to his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said: “I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump was the target of an assassination attempt. (Trump Campaign Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Trump fist pumped the crowd as he was taken away to safety. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Secret Service confirmed in a statement earlier today (14 July) that the shooter ‘is now deceased’.
They said: “US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated.”
The FBI has since identified the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Below is a photo taken by New York Times photographer, Doug Mills, who captured the moment the bullet looked to narrowly miss Trump’s head:
This is one of the craziest photos ever!
Breaking down the photo, Michael Harrigan, a retired FBI special agent, told the New York Times: “It absolutely could be showing the displacement of air due to a projectile.
“The angle seems a bit low to have passed through his ear, but not impossible if the gunman fired multiple rounds.
“If the gunman was firing an AR-15-style rifle, the .223-caliber or 5.56-millimeter bullets they use travel at roughly 3,200 feet per second when they leave the weapon’s muzzle.
“And with a 1/8,000th of a second shutter speed, this would allow the bullet to travel approximately four-tenths of a foot while the shutter is open.”
Featured Image Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics
Anish Vij
New visualisation shows how close Donald Trump was from losing his life in assassination attempt
The former US president was left bloodied after the assassination attempt
A new 3D visualisation has shown us just how close Donald Trump was to losing his life over the weekend.
The former US president was the target of an assassination attempt when a bullet narrowly missed his head on Saturday (13 July).
Trump was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania when several gunshots were fired in his direction.
The bloodied 78-year-old said he was shot in the ear as secret service agents rushed to his aid and took him to hospital.
The Republican was then flown away to New Jersey after visiting a local Pennsylvania hospital.
The gunman, who was ‘is now deceased’, was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, 50-year-old volunteer firefighter, Corey Comperatore, was killed in the attack.
Taking to his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said: “I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
Trump nearly lost his life after being a target of an assassination attempt. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Social media page Point Consciousness has since shared a 3D visualisation of just how close Trump was to being fatally shot.
Take a look:
NEW: New visualization shows just how close Donald Trump was from losing his life during the Pennsylvania rally. Trump says he turned his head at the last moment to look at the illegal immigration statistics that were on the big screen. “That chart that I was going over saved…
The video appears to show a birds-eye view of the bullet skimming Trump’s right ear right after moving his head.
Then, the clip shows the path the bullet would have taken if Trump did not move his head. He, most likely, would have been killed.
Though just two days after the incident, Trump carried on with his campaign at the Republican National Convention with a bandage over his right ear.
This came hours after delegates nominated him to lead their ticket for a third time.
“We must unite as a party, and we must unite as a nation,” said Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley, Mr Trump’s hand-picked party leader, as he opened Monday’s primetime national convention session.
“We must show the same strength and resilience as President Trump and lead this nation to a greater future.”
Featured Image Credit: Point Consciousness
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Crime, Politics, World News
Anish Vij
New eerie photos of Trump shooter raise huge questions over assassination attempt
Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead not long after attempting to take Donald Trump’s life
New eerie photos of the shooter who allegedly attempted to kill Donald Trump are raising huge questions over the failed assassination.
In a moment that shocked both supporters of the former US president and those who oppose him, Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire near to an open-air campaign rally on 13 July.
The 20-year-old gunman positioned himself on a roof overlooking Trump and his fans in Butler, Pennsylvania, and fired several rounds in his direction.
Donald Trump narrowly avoided being assassinated during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July. (REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images)
As we all know from those now famous photos, one bullet grazed the presidential candidate’s ear, leaving him bleeding, while one bystander lost his life.
Two other men were left seriously injured and Crooks was then shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
The motive behind this alleged assassination attempt has seemingly left officials puzzled, with Crooks’ phone showing searches for images of both Trump and President Joe Biden.
Investigations are meticulously analysing the key moments working up to the shooting, with photos now released of Crooks from just before he got himself set up on the roof.
In both images, Crooks appears to be sat on a brick wall checking his phone.
The images were taken moments before. (Judicial Watch)
And in the second photo, the gunman seems to be turning round, almost as though he is looking at someone who has called his name or spoken to him.
There were conspiracy theories that the shooter might have been communicating with someone else, which some argue these pictures add to.
However, this was shut down.
But a video released is sparking further questions as some theorist claims an unnamed woman shouts: “Crooks. What are you doing? Get over here. Get down.”
This was again debunked though as many explain the woman was shouting ‘Ross’ not ‘Crooks’.
People are wondering what he was turning around for. (Judicial Watch)
The FBI have long remained under the impression the gunman acted alone.
Part of the statement from the FBI on 14 July read: “The FBI is investigating the shooting incident at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in one victim’s death and injuries to former President Trump and other spectators, as an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism.
“While the investigation to date indicates the shooter acted alone, the FBI continues to conduct logical investigative activity to determine if there were any co-conspirators associated with this attack.
“At this time, there are no current public safety concerns.”
Featured Image Credit: BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT/Judicial Watch
