Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, conveyed to Newsmax on Wednesday his belief that Republican voters must come to the realization that former President Donald Trump is not the ideal candidate to defeat Joe Biden. Christie emphasized that the upcoming election is too crucial to risk losing.
According to Newsmax, He stated, “I endorsed Donald Trump in 2016 and played pivotal roles in his administration, including chairing his transition and leading the opioid commission. I want to clarify that I’m not a never-Trumper. However, our primary objective is defeating Joe Biden. Given the circumstances, we cannot afford to lose to him once again. The impact on our nation is simply irreparable if he were to secure another four years.”
One significant factor Christie pointed out is Trump’s ongoing legal challenges. “Trump is currently facing criminal charges in four separate cases, and this significantly impacts his electability,” Christie explained. “He will be occupied with courtroom proceedings throughout March and most of April, facing charges across four jurisdictions. This is an unprecedented situation for a front-runner in our nomination process. Regardless of one’s stance on these charges, they are a reality we must acknowledge.”
Moreover, Christie expressed deep concerns about Trump’s conduct on January 6, 2021, during the breach of the U.S. Capitol. He asserted, “His actions on that day were deeply troubling. His repeated claims of election fraud without sufficient evidence were damaging to our democracy. When the events of January 6 unfolded, even if he didn’t intend for them to escalate into violence, he witnessed the chaos and did not take immediate action to quell it. This, in my view, falls short of the conduct expected from someone who has held the presidency.”
Regarding his own standing in national polls and concerns about Trump’s dominance in the race, Christie remained unfazed. “The public’s attention on this election is still evolving,” he noted. “We’re transitioning out of the summer vacation season, and people are starting to focus on the upcoming race. Additionally, national polls, while interesting, have limited relevance since we do not have a national primary. My focus is on states like New Hampshire, where I’m currently polling at 14%.”
In summary, Chris Christie emphasized the critical need for the Republican Party to prioritize victory in the next election over loyalty to Donald Trump, citing legal challenges and concerns about Trump’s actions on January 6 as factors contributing to his electability problem.