Christie rips Trump for thriving on ‘chaos and turmoil’ amid calls for protests
Ryan King
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Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) ripped former President Donald Trump for thriving in “chaos and turmoil” after he called for protests in light of a possible indictment by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“The circus continues. I mean, look, he only profits and does well in chaos and turmoil. And so he wants to create the chaos and turmoil on his terms. He doesn’t want it on anybody else’s terms,” Christie said on ABC’s This Week. “Look at the end, being indicted, never helps anybody. It’s not a help.”
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On Saturday, Trump revealed that he expects to be “arrested on Tuesday” as rumors of a Manhattan indictment against him reach a fever pitch. Prosecutors are weighing charges believed to be connected to an alleged $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 cycle as well as related falsification of business records.
“Protest, take our nation back,” Trump implored his followers Saturday. His remarks drew a torrent of backlash, with some likening his remarks back to his speech that preceded the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Christie said he doesn’t think many people see Trump’s alleged affair as a “huge crime.”
“I don’t think there’s many Americans who don’t believe that Donald Trump had an affair with Stormy Daniels, and that don’t believe that he paid her money at the end of the campaign to keep it quiet. So, I don’t think that the American people probably see this as a huge crime,” he said.
Critics of the Manhattan DA’s office have raised questions about why prosecutors are zeroing in on Trump’s alleged activity that transpired roughly seven years ago. Prosecutors have met with Daniels and Michael Cohen, a former Trump lawyer and fixer who previously pleaded guilty in 2018 to a charge pertaining to the alleged payment.
Christie, a former federal prosecutor himself, tore into Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for his handling of criminal cases in the Big Apple. He also later underscored that “Donald Trump is not a man of his word.”
“When [Trump] says things about Alvin Bragg that are partisan and negative, he’s not wrong in my view,” Christie said. “I go into New York City every week. It is a dangerous zone to go into Manhattan because Alvin Bragg is running a revolving door and not prosecuting crime, not prosecuting violent criminals.”
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Ahead of a potential indictment, New York law enforcement has reportedly begun developing plans to address security in the event of Trump getting charged. At least one more witness in the case is expected to answer questions Monday.
Christie is currently deliberating over whether or not to run for president in 2024 and has suggested a decision will come within the next two months.