Trump releases MLK documents
News | By Easton Martin | July 22, 2025
A new batch of long-classified documents related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was released this week, shedding fresh light on the FBI’s extensive surveillance of the civil rights icon during the 1960s.
The release follows a broader transparency initiative championed by President Trump, which includes efforts to declassify historical government records involving civil liberties and intelligence operations. Civil rights advocates and historians have long pushed for the public disclosure of these files.
The documents, unsealed by the National Archives, confirm that the FBI under Director J. Edgar Hoover ran an aggressive campaign to discredit King. Tactics included phone wiretaps, informants, and internal memos plotting to undermine his reputation before he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
One particularly disturbing memo discusses using King’s private life to “neutralize” his influence on the public. Other files show the bureau closely monitored his associates, travel, and speeches, labeling him a potential threat despite his consistent calls for nonviolence.
While much of this activity has been known through past investigations, the newly released files provide firsthand detail and internal language that add weight to previous claims.
Historians say the release is a major step in confronting past abuses. Supporters of President Trump have praised his earlier executive actions aimed at declassifying hidden records, calling it a win for truth and transparency.
The full set of MLK documents is now available through the National Archives’ official website.
