CNN anchor John King was ridiculed for claiming particular counsel Jack Smith’s mundane lunch run for a Subway sandwich was some type of “message” to former President Donald Trump.
King’s head-scratching evaluation Tuesday got here after Smith despatched Trump a goal letter indicating that he may face fees associated to the Jan. 6 riot.
“Jack Smith going to Subway right now is a message to Donald Trump,” King mentioned whereas displaying a now-viral video of Smith leaving a Subway location in Washington, DC, with a sandwich in a paper bag.
“Donald Trump tries to intimidate folks. He tries to bully folks. He tries to scare you away,” King continued.
“That was Jack Smith, with no phrases and a easy $5 sub in his hand, saying, ‘I’m right here. I’m not going anyplace.’”
Social media customers rapidly slammed King.
“Sometimes a sandwich is only a sandwich,” one consumer wrote, whereas one other referred to as the interpretation “past pathetic.”
Another tweeted: “Now, if he’d received a Whopper, that might be a special message altogether….” — a reference to Trump’s love for McDonald’s Big Macs.
A consumer sarcastically chimed in: “Wow! The man really eats his personal lunch! What a revelation! CNN takes investigation to a complete new degree. Really?”
And one more sneered: “But what sort of sub did he order? His alternative of condiments et al will give much more particulars on the message he’s sending.”
It was the primary time the legal professional was seen since Trump revealed on Truth Social that Smith despatched him a letter informing him that he was goal of his Capitol assault investigation.
Smith was swarmed by a flurry of paparazzi as he left the restaurant flanked by safety guards.
As he made his option to his automobile, Smith stayed tight-lipped on questions concerning his Jan. 6 investigation.
Trump, 77, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, mentioned on his social media platform: “Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ, despatched a letter (once more, it was Sunday evening!) stating that I’m a TARGET of the January sixth Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a really quick 4 days to report back to the Grand Jury, which just about all the time means an Arrest and Indictment.”
He additionally referenced the goal letter throughout a city corridor on Tuesday hosted by Fox News’ Sean Hannity in entrance of an viewers of Iowa voters.
Trump bashed the Justice Department through the occasion as an “absolute weapon,” including that it “bothers” him that Smith is taking purpose at him through the federal grand jury investigation.
It’s unclear what exactly Trump could be charged with in relation to the occasions of Jan. 6 — although prospects embrace obstructing an official continuing, conspiracy to commit election fraud by authorizing slates of “pretend” electors to pledge their votes to him or knowingly soliciting cash beneath false pretenses by claiming to want funding for authorized challenges.
Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland because the Department of Justice’s particular counsel in November 2022, and was tasked with probing Trump’s actions main as much as and through the Jan. 6 Capitol assault.
His investigation additionally includes Trump’s dealing with of labeled paperwork at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.
On Tuesday, a federal decide signaled that the trial associated to the confidential paperwork wouldn’t begin till someday subsequent 12 months.
