Trump/ Jack Smith/ special counsel/ 2024 election/ Trump investigations/ Kamala Harris/ classified documents case/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donald Trump vowed to fire special counsel Jack Smith “within two seconds” if re-elected in November. Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has charged Trump with efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents. Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Smith, called him a “crooked person” during a conservative radio interview. The former president could face challenges in firing Smith, as special counsels are not directly appointed by the president.
Trump’s Pledge to Fire Jack Smith: Quick Looks
- Trump’s promise: Trump vows to fire special counsel Jack Smith immediately if re-elected.
- Special counsel cases: Smith has charged Trump in two federal cases involving election interference and classified documents.
- Potential challenges: Trump may not have direct authority to fire Smith, as he’s not a presidential appointee.
- Legal cloud: Trump faces legal hurdles as he campaigns, with his rivals using Smith’s investigations against him.
Trump Vows to Fire Special Counsel Jack Smith ‘Within 2 Seconds’ If Elected
Deep Look
Former President Donald Trump declared Thursday that one of his first acts as president, if re-elected, will be to fire special counsel Jack Smith “within two seconds” of taking office. Trump made the statement during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, where he was asked how he would handle the ongoing legal battles stemming from Smith’s investigations.
Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, has brought federal charges against Trump related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and for mishandling classified documents. Trump has repeatedly criticized Smith throughout his campaign, calling him a “crooked person” during the interview and reaffirming his intention to dismiss the special counsel if he regains the presidency.
“It’s so easy. I would fire him within two seconds,” Trump said, responding to Hewitt’s question. He added that Smith’s removal would be “one of the first things addressed” should he win in November.
Although Trump is adamant about firing Smith, it’s unclear whether he would be able to execute such a move unilaterally. Special counsels are not directly appointed by the president, so Trump would likely need to direct the Justice Department to remove Smith rather than doing it himself. The scenario echoes Trump’s previous term in office, when he pressured his White House counsel, Don McGahn, to push for the termination of special counsel Robert Mueller during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. McGahn refused, and Mueller remained in his role.
Smith has brought two major federal cases against Trump. The first accuses Trump of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, which was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, in July. Smith is currently appealing that decision. The second case charges Trump with attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, though this case has been delayed following a Supreme Court ruling that granted Trump broad immunity for actions taken while in office.
During the interview, Hewitt raised the possibility that firing Smith could result in Congress impeaching Trump over the action. Trump dismissed that notion, saying, “I don’t think they’ll impeach me if I fire Jack Smith.” He doubled down on his criticism of Smith, calling him a “scoundrel” and emphasizing his intent to remove the special counsel as quickly as possible.
The investigations led by Smith have provided ammunition for Trump’s opponents, including Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Harris’ campaign released an ad earlier this month featuring footage of the January 6 Capitol riot alongside headlines from Smith’s investigation into Trump’s role in attempting to overturn the election. The ad sought to portray Trump as a threat to American democracy, with the message “He knew what he was doing” displayed on screen.
While Trump lambasted Smith, he praised Judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed the classified documents case against him earlier this year. “We had a brave, brilliant judge in Florida,” Trump said. “She’s a brilliant judge, by the way. I don’t know her. I never spoke to her. Never spoke to her. But we had a brave and very brilliant judge.”
As Trump continues his campaign for the presidency, the legal challenges posed by Smith’s investigations loom large. His promise to fire the special counsel underscores the tension between his campaign’s efforts to move past the controversies surrounding January 6 and his handling of classified materials, and the ongoing legal proceedings that could impact his candidacy.
