Getty Trump leaving the federal courthouse Tuesday.
Two unidentified people gathered outside a federal courthouse in Washington were heard on a hot mic video on January 9 joking about former President Donald Trump and the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.
TMZ reported without evidence that voices in the video belonged to two “unnamed journalists” as they made comments “outside the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse Tuesday morning in Washington, DC” while waiting for Trump to arrive for a court hearing where his attorneys were to argue for Trump’s immunity from criminal charges.
The voices in the 50-second video were heard discussing whether they would have “a good view of Trump,” TMZ reported, without citing the source of the video, in its story published January 9.
“Maybe someone, just like they told JFK, ‘Y’know what ya should do, you should take a convertible!'” one of the men said jokingly. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while riding in a convertible in a presidential motorcade in Dallas.
Mike Sington, a former Hollywood executive, also posted the video on X, citing the source of the video as the Associated Press.
Here’s what you need to know:
The 2 Journalists Were Discussing the View They Would Have of Former President Donald Trump When He Arrived at the Federal Courthouse
“Like JFK.” Two journalists caught on hot mic laughing and joking about Trump being assassinated as they wait for him outside appeals court. (Video: AP)
The two men speaking in the video were not identified by name or affiliation to a media organization. The video makes it clear that the men are joking.
“You know what the worst part is? Even when he’s hanging out of it, he’ll be on the other side,” one of the men said.
“I mean, if he’s driving you have a good shot,” the second man said.
“Yeah, if he’s driving with the front window open,” the second man said.
“Yeah, or if it’s a convertible,” said the first man.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t thinking about that,” the first man said. “Yeah, like JFK … like JFK, an open …” The man’s voice trailed off. Then he said, “Maybe someone just like they told JFK, ‘You know what ya should do? You should take a convertible. It’s so nice out.'”
President Trump Was in Court to Watch His Attorneys Make a Presidential Immunity Argument
GettyDonald Trump.
According to the New York Post, Trump was at the federal courthouse as his attorneys argued that he is immune from the criminal charges filed by Jack Smith regarding the 2020 presidential election. Their argument is that he is immune from criminal prosecution because he was still president at the time.
“To authorize the prosecution of a president for official acts would open a Pandora’s box from which this nation may never recover,” Trump’s attorney John Sauer said in court, according to The Post.
He argued that future presidents might be prosecuted for “authorizing drone strikes targeting US citizens abroad” or for what they told Congress about decisions to go to war.
According to CNN, the federal appeals panel appeared to show “deep skepticism” over Trump’s immunity claims.
CNN reported that a judge was concerned whether a blanket grant of immunity could “allow presidents to sell pardons or even assassinate political opponents.” CNN reported that the panel includes judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans.
“Could a president order SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival? That is an official act, an order to SEAL Team Six?” Judge Florence Pan, a Joe Biden nominee to the court, asked, according to CNN.
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