Donald Trump recently made headlines by releasing thousands of classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Although many expected groundbreaking revelations, Trump’s release left people still searching for the ultimate truth that he had promised earlier.

For decades, Americans have been trying to uncover what truly happened on November 22, 1963—the day when John F. Kennedy, the nation’s 35th president, was shot and killed at the age of 46.

On March 18, the Trump administration officially declassified 80,000 documents tied to JFK’s assassination. This decision aligned with the 1992 Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act, which had originally required full disclosure by 2017.

“We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’re going to have a lot of reading. I don’t believe we’re going to redact anything,” Trump, now 78, said during an event at the Kennedy Center on March 17. “They’ve been waiting for that for decades. And I said during the campaign I’d release them, and I’m a man of my word… so tomorrow you’ll have the JFK files.”

Trump—who was just 17 years old when JFK was assassinated—had previously released thousands of documents back in 2018. However, some materials were still withheld or redacted at that time due to national security concerns. Later, President Biden took a similar step by releasing an additional 13,000 records in 2022.

According to the New York Post, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated, “President Trump is ushering in a new era of maximum transparency. Per his direction, previously redacted JFK Assassination Files are being released to the public with no redactions. Promises made, promises kept.”

Despite this significant move toward transparency, some documents are still being kept classified. Trump’s decision stirred excitement among his supporters, who viewed it as a symbol of his commitment to transparency. His administration also presented the action in that light. Yet even with this grand gesture, a portion of the files remains locked away.

And while the promise of new and shocking information was enticing, the reality of the document release proved far less sensational. The majority of the newly available documents simply reaffirmed the conclusions already drawn by the Warren Commission in 1964—that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone when he fired from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, where he had recently been employed.

The official account describes three shots fired at approximately 12:30 p.m. as JFK’s motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. The first shot missed entirely. The second shot, known as the “magic bullet,” struck Kennedy in the back, exited through his throat, and then went on to wound Texas Governor John Connally, shattering his wrist and lodging in his thigh. The third and final shot, fired just 8.6 seconds after the first, fatally struck Kennedy in the head.

Following the assassination, Oswald allegedly fled the scene and later shot a Dallas police officer. He was apprehended but never stood trial, as he was murdered two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby while in police custody.

Over the decades, the assassination of John F. Kennedy has evolved beyond a historical tragedy into a generational mystery. Many Americans have long believed that JFK’s death was not the work of a lone gunman, but rather the result of a broader conspiracy. Theories range widely, involving organized crime, Cuban exiles seeking revenge, or even the CIA orchestrating the assassination to prevent Kennedy from exposing knowledge about extraterrestrial life.

The newly declassified files did offer some fresh fragments of information, but ultimately, they lacked the “smoking gun” that many had hoped would confirm or debunk the swirling theories. Instead, the lack of definitive answers has continued to fuel speculation, keeping the mystery alive.

For diehard conspiracy theorists, the limited transparency only added fuel to their fire, and they were quick to take to social media to voice their opinions. One user tweeted, “The CIA assassinated the sitting President JFK and they were never held accountable for it!” Another user insisted, “The CIA killed JFK.” Yet another conspiracy-minded individual focused on alien theories, posting, “It appears the reason why the JFK files weren’t released for all these years was because they reveal US government awareness of UAPs/UFOs.”

Meanwhile, a sense of disappointment was also palpable online among those who had anticipated groundbreaking disclosures. Many vented their frustration at what they perceived as a major letdown.

“Turns out the only thing uncovered in the JFK Files is what we already knew from the Warren Commission,” noted one user. Another added, “I was told repeatedly these were going to be unredacted…” expressing irritation at the continued withholding of key information. Yet another tweet read, “You got played… again? How many more times?”

Some even pointed out that the documents Trump released were essentially the same set previously disclosed under President Biden’s administration in 2023. “Trump released the same JFK files that Biden released in 2023 lol. Fell for it again award,” one user tweeted, posting side-by-side images comparing the two document releases, with the only major difference being the word “secret” crossed out on Trump’s version. Others chimed in with comments like, “Biden released these unredacted. Biden 1 Trump 0,” and “Literally the same files released by Biden.”

Despite the flurry of excitement and controversy surrounding the release, the JFK assassination remains one of America’s most enduring unsolved puzzles. Trump’s document release, while offering a few new details, ultimately did little to provide closure or deliver the groundbreaking revelations many had hoped for.

If you’re interested in examining the JFK Assassination Records for yourself, you can find them available for download HERE. After reviewing them, feel free to share your thoughts—and don’t forget to pass this story along to your friends. We’d love to hear their take, too.