One of the greatest misfortunes a nation can suffer is to be led by individuals who turn their countries into arenas for personal triumphs, markets for private interests, and theatres for self-serving politics.
While history is often written by the powerful, true legacy belongs to those leaders who honour the weight of responsibility and the sanctity of their homeland, regardless of whether thrones embrace them or platforms celebrate them.
Recently, the US National Archives released the final batch of formerly classified documents related to the assassination of President John F Kennedy on November 22, 1963—a tragedy that continues to stir the American psyche and fuel conspiracy theories more than six decades later. These documents revisit the findings of the Warren Commission, which concluded that former Marine sniper Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Oswald was arrested on the day of the assassination but denied all charges, only to be shot and killed two days later while in police custody by club owner Jack Ruby. These events only deepened public suspicion that a larger conspiracy was at play, suspicions further compounded by the US government’s slow and selective release of related files over the years.
This latest publication follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on January 23 to declassify all remaining records tied to the deaths of JFK, his brother Robert Kennedy, and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.—all of whom were assassinated within a five-year period. It is the second batch Trump authorised, part of a broader campaign promise to bring transparency to these historic cases. Upon announcing the release, Trump proclaimed: “People have waited decades for this,” adding, “There’s a lot of paper—plenty to read.”
Yet, according to analysts who reviewed the 1,123 documents—totalling around 80,000 pages—there is little evidence of new revelations. This begs the question: why now? Why did Trump choose this specific moment to publicise the files?
Could this move be a calculated distraction? Perhaps to divert public attention from broken promises—such as ending wars—while simultaneously fuelling new ones? Trump has been criticised for inflaming tensions with countries like Canada and Mexico, and for economic pledges that appear increasingly overshadowed by rising taxes and mounting uncertainty. Could the timing also relate to his dealings in the Middle East, particularly in light of continued violence against Palestinians and ongoing conflicts such as Yemen?
Trump’s turbulent relationship with the US intelligence community adds another layer. His decision to unveil documents that intelligence officials believe could embarrass the country has raised alarms. Some commentators view the release as a political strike against those within the intelligence establishment, accusing him of weaponising state secrets in a vendetta against what he calls the "deep state"—a supposed shadow network of bureaucrats intent on sabotaging his agenda through surveillance and media leaks. These tensions are further fuelled by Trump’s resentment over past revelations of his business dealings and campaign ties.
Is Trump, then, using presidential powers to wage personal battles and punish those he perceives as adversaries? His push to weaken national security bureaucracies and shrink the federal government suggests as much. His selection of figures like Elon Musk to lead federal efficiency reform, coupled with their calls to reduce the federal workforce, could drastically impact intelligence services. Moreover, Trump has vowed to purge “corrupt actors” from the national security space.
In the end, no leader should prioritise personal ambitions over the well-being of their nation. Squandering national resources—be they human or natural—for fleeting vendettas or political theatrics damages not only a country's reputation but also its national security and social fabric.
Translated by Badr al Dhafari
The original version of this article was published in Oman Arabic newspaper on March 24, 2025
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