Trump attacks Jack Smith and Letitia James in victory lap: ‘They gave me the worst of the worst’

Donald Trump attacked Jack Smith, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and mocked Fani Willis during a White House press briefing
Donald Trump marked one year in office by praising himself and attacking Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, Letitia James, and Alvin Bragg (Getty Images)
Donald Trump marked one year in office by praising himself and attacking Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, Letitia James, and Alvin Bragg (Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump praised himself for confronting and, in his view, successfully handling several political adversaries, including former Special Counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, during a press conference on January 20. 

The president spoke to the media for more than two hours in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House as he marked one year in the Oval Office.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 01: Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment including four felony counts against former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Justice Department on August 1, 2023 in Washington, DC. Trump was indicted on four felony counts for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment including four felony counts against President Donald Trump at the Justice Department on August 1, 2023 in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

During the remarks, he sharply criticized former president Joe Biden and his administration, while also attacking Smith, Willis, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Trump lashes out at prosecutors during briefing

Donald Trump launched a verbal attack on former Special Counsel Jack Smith during the press briefing, also targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

“He’s a sick son of a b**ch. They gave me the worst of the worst. And here I am. How did that happen? How did it happen? He’s a sick guy and Letitia James is sick and Alvin Bragg is sick,” the POTUS stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. Leavitt was joined by President Trump days after the president threatened a 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries that have rallied around Denmark amid Trump's calls for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump also mentioned Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, repeatedly mispronouncing her name.

He added, “You can’t go Fanny she doesn’t like it. She wants to be called Fani, Fani Willis. I want, can you imagine, putting somebody through that?”

Trump asserts he does not 'weaponize anything'

Donald Trump, 79, portrayed himself as unfairly targeted, claiming, “If I suggest that somebody may be guilty of a terrible crime, oh, he’s weaponizing government. Trump is weaponizing the government. It’s terrible. Can you imagine? They say to me about weaponizing, I don’t weaponize anything.”

President Donald Trump displays a stack of binders as he speaks to the media during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was joined by President Trump days after the president threatened a 10% import tax on goods from eight European countries that have rallied around Denmark amid Trump's calls for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump displays a stack of binders as he speaks to the media during a press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2026 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Smith previously led a criminal investigation into Trump related to hush money payments and the 2020 presidential election. Smith, 56, was appointed in 2022 by then–Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Jack Smith cites strong evidence against Trump

Jack Smith earlier this month testified before Congress, saying, “The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions.”

Former President Donald Trump made several verbal gaffes during the Philadelphia MAGA rally (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump made several verbal gaffes during the Philadelphia MAGA rally (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Smith claimed his probe “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power.”

He also argued that his team “developed powerful evidence that showed that President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January of 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a ballroom and a bathroom.”

In addition, the former special counsel asserted that Trump “repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents.” 

However, Trump portrayed himself as a victim, telling reporters that “what they did to me, nobody ever went through what I went through.”

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'We will add far more jobs in Miami over the next decade as an immediate and direct consequence of the mayor’s poor decision,' Ken Griffin said
26 minutes ago
PETA said PepsiCo shareholders rejected its animal welfare proposal, but the group plans to resubmit it as the company defended its standards
2 hours ago
Donald Trump praised Pete Hegseth’s response during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, describing it as 'what we want of our Secretary of War'
2 hours ago
Rudy Giuliani’s spokesperson said the former mayor and his family are grateful for the prayers and support received after news of his illness emerged
3 hours ago
John Roberts said many Americans wrongly see the Supreme Court as political, insisting its rulings are based on law, not policy
4 hours ago
Obama revisited earlier comments about extraterrestrial life and clarified that he meant the universe is vast enough that humans are likely not alone
5 hours ago
Savannah Guthrie's abrupt exit immediately sparked fresh speculation online as her mother, Nancy Guthrie, has been missing since February 1
7 hours ago
Donald Trump said autocorrect kept changing Melania Trump’s name to 'Melody' because he posted quickly without proofreading
8 hours ago
Edmond police said no suspects have been arrested as shooters remain at large after the Arcadia Lake shooting left one dead and 23 injured
1 day ago
The debris contained chromium, PCBs, pesticides, petroleum byproducts and other toxic chemicals at levels over laboratory reporting limits in soil
1 day ago