Former President Donald Trump once again dangled red meat for conspiracy theorists, this time repeating a former promise that if elected, he would release the long-secret tranche of John F. Kennedy documents.
Trump's latest pledge came Thursday on The All-In Podcast. Host Chamath Palihapitiya called Trump out for his 2016 campaign promise to "release the JFK file."
"And then you said later, 'I saw it, and I just ... I wasn't really ready to do it.' And then I saw a clip where you changed your mind and said, 'I think we're ready to see this file. And I'm just curious ..."
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He was cut off by co-host Jason Calacanis: "What's in it?! Tell us right now!"
Trump replied: "I actually did do it."
"I released a lot, as you know," he said. "But when it came to the whole thing, I was hit by some people that worked for me — that are great people, that you would respect — and they asked me not to do it. And I'm saying, 'Why? Tell me why? And they said, 'Sir, I think it needs a little more time."
Trump said that while he released a lot, he respected those who advised him not to go further.
This time around, however, would be different.
"This time I'm just going to do it," said Trump.
In response to a question about Robert F. Kennedy's belief the CIA was responsible for JFK's assassination, Trump said someone else asked him to hold off.
"Well this wasn't CIA that asked me, but I think CIA was probably behind it. But they didn't ... they would have preferred that I not release the rest of it."
He later added the release would have to be done "early on."
"A lot of people want to see that. And," he shrugged, "Whatever it may say, I won't say it — I have an idea — but whatever it is, it'll be very interesting for people to see. And we're going to have to learn from it."
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Lee Harvey Oswald was officially accused of assassinating Kennedy and was arrested Nov. 22, 1963, shortly after Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas. Oswald was charged with murdering Kennedy and Dallas police officer, J.D. Tippit, who was slain shortly after the assassination.
Oswald did not stand trial, however. On Nov. 24, 1963, he was shot dead by nightclub owner Jack Ruby as he was moved from the city jail to the county jail.
Trump has publicly vowed to release the documents multiple times, including in an October 2017 tweet when he tweeted: "Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened."
That month, about 2,800 documents were released related to the JFK assassination. However, Trump broke his previous promise and ordered that some files remain classified for an additional six months, citing national security concerns.
President Joe Biden's administration in 2022 released more than 13,000records related to the assassination but also fell short of fully complying with the spirit of a decades-old law requiring transparency.