The greater part of Trump’s administration has been shrouded with polemics and controversies. For many, his policies and executive orders have debauched the fundamentals that undergird the ideals he expressed would make America great, instead creating a nation that is deeply laden with pressing issues. From his de facto approach to immigration policies to threats of withholding federal funds and efforts to stifle diversity and inclusion initiatives, Trump’s presidency can emphatically be defined by its stringent ideological structure and traditional slant on social dynamics.
As part of his initiative to underscore his commitment to administrative transparency, Trump has released a large tranche of previously classified Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) files, which cover his assassination, FBI surveillance files, and investigation notes. The 230,000-page catalogue gives a comprehensive view of MLK’s life, specifically his civil rights pursuits and the FBI’s observation probes.
The release of these files has been met with strong opposition, especially from MLK’s family, who cite defamatory and denigrating intentions behind the release. In a statement by King’s family, they urge individuals to take into consideration the situational context behind the files and make assessments with the impression that MLK was targeted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“The release of these files must be viewed within their full historical context. During our father’s lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the FBI. The intent of the government’s COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor but also to discredit, dismantle, and destroy Dr. King’s reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement.”
- King’s Family
For the King’s family, it is an invasion of privacy, a blemish to his sacrosanct history, and a painful reminder of the hardship King must have endured during his civil rights campaign. Thus, the public release probes into the question of relevance and intent, obscuring Trump’s administrative transparency. Interestingly, Alveda King, MLK’s niece, has shown her appreciation for the release of the files, harbouring contrary opinions concerning the public disclosure, and creating a platform for even more social commentary. In a public statement, she confesses that:
“My uncle lived boldly in pursuit of truth and justice, and his enduring legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day. While we continue to mourn his death, the declassification and release of these documents are a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve.”
Given the social and political terrains around the abrupt release of the MLK files, many have speculated this effort to be a political gambit to pivot and potentially shift the focus of public inquiry away from the release of the “Epstein Files” and, by extension, Trump’s possible involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking operations.
The release of the MLK files has rejuvenated the #Epsteinfiles campaign, with many questioning Trump’s rhetoric on administrative transparency and not upholding earlier stated campaign promises.
The release of the MLK cannot be viewed in isolation but instantly piques the involvement of other social, political, and ethical narratives. While the disclosure of these files reveals how federal institutions are given carte blanche to abuse power, it also reinforces claims of Trump’s strategic move to manipulate public perception and change ongoing narratives.
