CNN's intense focus on Special Counsel Jack Smith's recent Subway lunch has drawn considerable ridicule, especially after correspondent John King portrayed it as a deliberate message to Donald Trump. During "CNN News Central," King suggested Smith's simple $5 sub was a nonverbal statement of defiance against Trump's alleged intimidation tactics.

CNN's coverage of the incident sparked criticism. On "Fox & Friends," hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade expressed amusement at CNN's analysis. Doocy humorously questioned what the interpretation would have been if Smith had used a coupon or opted for Taco Bell's Taco Tuesday. Earhardt highlighted tweets that dismissed the incident, suggesting that sometimes a sandwich is simply a sandwich.

Fox News contributor Joe Concha criticized the coverage as an example of poor journalism, contrasting it with CNN's past reputation for serious reporting. He attributed the focus on Trump to the network's declining viewership. Sen. John Kennedy also mocked CNN's analysis, finding it unremarkable unless Smith had been filmed eating Cheerios off the floor with his dog.