Trump’s JFK Files Release Is About Restoring Trust In Government

The release of the JFK files has been a longtime rallying cry for skeptics. When the Trump administration promised to release them in full, the 80,000 documents seemed to be a conspiracy theorist’s dream. However, Trump’s purpose for releasing the files was actually a brilliant strategic play that even the wildest skeptics overlooked. For months, as people bubbled with anticipation, speculating about what they might contain, what information they might reveal, who they could implicate as the real assassin, the White House was setting itself up for an inevitable victory.

The general sentiment seems to be that very few people actually read through the files. Some used AI to comb through them and maybe a few had the mental fortitude to actually sit down and examine them. The greatest likelihood is that most folks opened up a couple of documents, affirmed that they were indeed publicly available, and then went on with their lives.

For a few days, there seemed to be a bit of subdued intrigue, as people waited for those with razor-sharp diligence to parse out the most valuable information. But nothing happened. There was suspense over finally discovering the smoking gun that proved who might have actually killed JFK, be it the mob, the CIA, the Cubans, LBJ, the Soviets, and so on. But still, nothing.

The boiling excitement lowered to a soft simmer. Now, the entire affair has mostly been laid aside. The JFK files had been teased for so long, only to fizzle out after half a day’s news cycle. Trump, always the master of media, was not looking for a single shocking headline; his administration was planting the seeds of regrowth amidst a fractured political landscape.

The conspiracy theorists weren’t necessarily wrong. Suspicions about authoritative narratives have often been proven true, such as with election integrity and the “science” behind Covid mandates. It is not a bad thing for citizens to ask questions about their leaders and to investigate when they feel the truth is being withheld. Yet, with over 60 years separating the assassination of JFK and the release of the investigative files, it is unlikely that any crumbs of revelation would be left in their pages. Sixty years have allowed for evidence to be scrubbed and shredded, if it was ever written down in the first place. After all, very few assassins keep a diary of their hits. 

Justice is a crucial part of maintaining a functioning society. But after 60 years, anyone who might have been involved with a Kennedy conspiracy is most likely departed. The questions people have about what happened on Nov. 22, 1963, will probably remain unanswered. The smoking gun has cooled off and been buried. The nation marches on, with new conspiracies to pass the time (Birds aren’t real, anyone?).

The release of the JFK files was never about solving the conspiracy, though. It was about ushering in a new era of government transparency. Trump wanted the public to have access to a piece of American lore that had long been withheld. It was his peace offering, a way to approach the nation with honesty and respect. The Biden era of politics was marked by its lies. People were told that their senses were lying to them, that they were not hearing Biden stutter through speeches, and they were not seeing him fall down stairs. Mainstream media propped up Biden’s presidency by hiding the seedy underbelly of truth that revealed he was unfit to lead the country. 

Trump’s second term has thus far been defined by its clarity. In the first month of his presidency, Trump answered over 1,000 questions. In the first month of Biden’s presidency, the former leader answered only 141 questions. There are a constant slew of press conferences, briefings, and interviews which give the public a full understanding of Trump, both as a leader and a person. Even his social media posts on platforms like X and Truth Social have endeared the public to him, as he often shows off his sense of humor. Almost like a fireside chat, Americans can expect to hear from Trump daily on a firsthand basis. 

Trump’s release of the JFK files is not him simply appeasing his fan base. It’s a concerted effort to restore the bond of trust that a government should have with its people. Time has eroded the association between the state and its citizens. The Western tradition is built upon a social contract, wherein people respect those in positions of power over them. However, those in power must act with grace, mercy, and justice. Civilization is meant to be a reflection of humanity’s relationship with God, wherein He leads His created beings with faithfulness. It is demonstrated in the relationship between husband and wife, parents and children, and communities and their government. 

For 60 years, the American people have felt as though they were caught between the carrot and the stick. The JFK files were lorded over them as a piece of rare information they weren’t allowed access to. As the decades went by, the government pretended that this couldn’t be trusted with the American public and opted to keep the files atop the fridge beside the cookie jar, so that nobody could get their hands on them. Their release may not offer any valuable insight as to what happened in Dallas, but it’s a peace offering. It shows that Trump wants his administration to adhere to the sacred partnership the government has with the governed. 

It is seriously doubtful that Donald Trump himself sat down to read tens of thousands of documents about JFK’s assassination. However, it’s more than likely that he had been briefed on them and knew they contained no incriminating evidence. Trump was a young man when Kennedy was killed, and he spent 60 years listening to conspiracies about JFK and MLK and whether or not NASA put men on the moon. After so much confusion and concealed information about the assassination attempts against Trump, perhaps he found some kind of satisfaction in releasing previously redacted files. 

Maybe it was a way for him to fight back against the dubious forces that had targeted his own life. Maybe it was a way to advocate for justice 60 years after a nefarious crime had been committed. In every scenario, Trump gives America an olive branch. He isn’t storing up his power in a mad dash for the scraps of control; he is showing that it’s okay to have questions, because he still has some, too.

Brooke Brandtjen is a writer and journalist from Wisconsin who focuses primarily on culture, politics, and religion. She is extremely passionate about the arts and history, and is honored to write for a variety of distinguished publications.