Chris Christie says GOP rivals ‘playing political games’ on Trump indictment
Mabinty Quarshie
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Former New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie didn’t hold back in slamming fellow Republican rivals on several issues including former President Donald Trump‘s second indictment at a CNN town hall hosted by Anderson Cooper on Monday evening.
Last week, the Department of Justice unveiled a historic 37 criminal indictment against Trump for allegations he mishandled classified documents when leaving the White House. But Christie didn’t hesitate to slam Republicans for attacking the agency for the indictment instead of Trump.
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“We’re in a situation where there are people in my own party who are blaming DOJ,” Christie said in front of an audience of Republican voters from early nominating states. “How about blame him? He did it. … He took documents he wasn’t supposed to take. He kept it when they asked him back for them. They got a grand jury subpoena; he refused to comply. They raided his home finally because he refused to comply.”
Christie didn’t stop there. “Why do you think they’re not addressing what’s actually in the indictment?” Cooper asked Christie about GOP rivals like Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
“Because it’s indefensible, and they’re playing games,” he responded. “They’re playing political games with you.”
At one point, Christie asked point blank: “When did we get to the point we’re always playing with our adversaries for the weakness of our candidates?”
“Oh, it’s the Democrats’ fault. It’s DOJ’s fault. It’s this person’s fault. It’s the media’s fault. How about it’s his?” Christie continued. “He hasn’t won a damn thing since 2016. Three-time loser. 2018 we lost the House. 2020 we lost the White House. We lost the United States Senate a couple of weeks later in 2021. And in 2022, we lost two more governorships, another Senate seat, and barely took the House of Representatives when Joe Biden had the most incompetent first two years I’ve ever seen in my life. Loser, loser, loser.”
Although other Republicans slammed the Justice Department’s “weaponization” against Republicans, Christie pushed back when Cooper asked if he agreed with his rivals. “I don’t think so,” Christie said. “This evidence looks pretty damning. I think it’s a broader question than that.”
When asked if he would get rid of FBI Director Christopher Wray, Christie suggested he wouldn’t fire him.
“If he wanted to stay, I would keep him, and I would hold him to the very same standard that I just talked about,” Christie said. “And I would give him a boss as attorney general, who he would know he had to report to and that he’d have to answer for everything that’s going on the FBI.”
Christie also attacked Trump for being selfish and narcissistic and was a prime reason he wasn’t fit for reelection.
“He’s angry and he’s vengeful, and he said, ‘I will be your retribution,'” Christie said. “Well, I don’t think I don’t want him to be my retribution. I don’t need him to do that. And I don’t think anybody in America needs it either. He wants to be retribution for himself. I am convinced that if he goes back to the White House that the next four years will all be about him just settling scores.”
Christie has built his campaign around excoriating Trump, the current GOP primary front-runner, with the sole goal of blocking him from winning the Republican nomination. Christie is among nine other Republican Trump challengers vying to become the party’s standard-bearer. But Christie, unlike other challengers, has been unrelenting in his forthright attacks against the former president.
During the town hall, Christie made the case that as a two-term Republican governor in a blue state, he has the political skills to deliver on Republican priorities in Washington. He stressed he wanted to get the federal budget in order, prioritize educational options for parents, send the National Guard to the southern border, and reestablish the nation’s dominance as a global leader.
He faces an uphill climb battle to defeat Trump, though, given his single-digit poll numbers and high unfavorable numbers among Republican voters. Christie currently polls at 1.2% among GOP primary voters, according to a RealClearPolitics poll aggregate, far below Trump’s 55.6% average.
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The former governor is among the latest presidential candidate to sit down in a town hall event. Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley participated in their town halls, while Trump did one last month.
Christie ran for president during the 2016 cycle but dropped out after a disappointing sixth-place finish during the New Hampshire primary. He later endorsed Trump for president and would work with Trump throughout his administration and on debate preparation. They fell out over the 2020 presidential elections and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.