Chris Christie attacks Trump in presidential campaign launch: ‘He deserves it’ – National | 24CA News
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasted no time going after Donald Trump whereas launching his presidential marketing campaign on Tuesday, calling the previous president and present Republican major front-runner a “lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog” and arguing that he’s the one one who can cease him.
A onetime federal prosecutor, Christie was among the many crowded area of 2016 Republican presidential candidates steamrolled by Trump. Now that Trump is operating for the White House a 3rd time, this yr’s crop of rivals don’t have any selection however to criticize him relentlessly, or threat political historical past repeating itself, Christie says.
Kicking off his marketing campaign with a city corridor at Saint Anselm College, Christie recommended that different prime Republicans have been afraid to problem Trump and even point out his title a lot whereas campaigning — however made it clear he had no such qualms.
“A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader,” Christie stated, including, “The person I am talking about, who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault, who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong — but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right — is Donald Trump.”
Christie enters a rising major area that already consists of Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence will probably be formally launching his personal marketing campaign in Iowa on Wednesday.
Mere weeks after dropping out of the 2016 race, Christie turned the primary sitting governor and former rival to endorse Trump. He went on to grow to be a detailed off-and-on adviser earlier than lastly breaking with Trump over his refusal to simply accept the outcomes of the 2020 election.
During his time as governor, Christie established a popularity as a fighter with a knack for creating viral moments of confrontation. But he faces an uphill battle to the nomination in a celebration that continues to be carefully aligned with the previous president, regardless of Trump’s reelection loss in 2020 and Republicans’ poorer-than-expected displaying within the 2022 midterm elections.
Anti-Trump Republicans are notably wanting to see Christie spar with Trump on a debate stage. But that occur provided that Trump agrees to take part in major debates and Christie meets the stringent fundraising standards set by the Republican National Committee for participation.
JP Marzullo, a former state consultant and former vice chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, beforehand backed Trump however is now supporting Christie.
“I think he’ll actually unite some of the voters, and he’ll get to independents,” Marzullo stated of the previous governor, including, “I think it’s time for a change.”
Christie started criticizing Trump by title mere moments into his half-hour speech Tuesday, saying the previous president had “made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting us one against the other.”
He additionally stated President Joe Biden “is doing the same thing, just on the other side.” Christie famous that he’d identified Biden for many years and that he was a pleasant man, however stated that the president is “out of his depth” as a result of “he’s not the guy he used to be,” referencing the 80-year-old Biden’s superior age.
But Christie’s chief goal was Trump.
“There’s a big argument in our country right now about whether character matters, and we have leaders who have shown us over and over again that not only are they devoid of character, they don’t care.” Christie stated. “We can’t dismiss the question of character anymore, everybody. If we do, we get what we deserve, and we will have to own it.”
Christie advisers are planning a nontraditional, nationally centered marketing campaign based mostly on earned media consideration, as a substitute of specializing in particular states. Their candidate stated staying aggressive in opposition to Trump was key and scoffed Tuesday at what he stated have been Trump’s failed guarantees, together with a pledge to wall off your entire southern U.S. border and have Mexico pay for it.
“The reason I’m going after Trump is twofold,” Christie stated. “One, he deserves it. And two, it’s the way to win.”
Christie will take a look at the urge for food amongst Republican voters for somebody who has expressed assist for a lot of of Trump’s insurance policies however has criticized the previous president’s conduct. The former governor has urged the celebration to maneuver on or threat future losses.
Other Republicans with related views, together with former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, have opted in opposition to their very own campaigns, expressing considerations that having extra candidates within the race will solely profit Trump.
Christie was at one level seen as one of many Republican Party’s brightest political stars as the favored Republican governor of a Democratic state. But regardless of persistent urging from prime donors and celebration officers, he declined to run for president in 2012. By the time he introduced in 2016, his popularity had been tarnished by the “Bridgegate” scandal through which aides have been accused of wreaking visitors havoc in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in an obvious effort to punish the town’s mayor for failing to endorse his reelection bid.
The former governor has identified Trump for almost 20 years however their relationship has been sophisticated. Christie was on the shortlist to function Trump’s vice chairman, oversaw Trump’s early White House transition efforts, stated he was supplied — and turned down — a number of Cabinet positions, and helped Trump put together for every of his common election debates in 2016 and 2020.
But Christie additionally clashed with Trump at occasions and has described the previous president’s refusal to simply accept his 2020 election loss to Biden as a breaking level.
Christie opting to begin his 2024 bid at a New Hampshire city corridor recalled his first run on the White House, when he centered on the state, holding dozens of New Hampshire city corridor occasions solely to complete sixth in its major. He dropped out of that race shortly afterward.
After his speech Tuesday, Christie took prolonged questions from the viewers — a standard incidence in early voting states that DeSantis was hesitant to do when launching his marketing campaign. Christie additionally talked overtly about his underwhelming 2016 efficiency, regardless of concentrating so closely on New Hampshire.
“I lost,” Christie laughed. “You people did that to me in 2016.”
Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press Writer Will Weissert contributed to this story from Washington.
