Former GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie appeared on ABC’s The View to discuss his campaign and address concerns about former President Donald Trump’s support for the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. During the interview, Christie engaged in a heated exchange with co-host Sunny Hostin, focusing on whether Trump should be removed from the presidential ballot.
Christie argued against removing Trump from the ballot, expressing a practical concern that doing so could lead to increased conflict in the country. He emphasized that elections in a democracy are meant to resolve conflicts, and he advocated for defeating Trump at the polls instead. Christie criticized those, like Nikki Haley, who are hesitant to confront Trump directly, urging people to take him on directly and let the voters decide.
Hostin questioned the application of the law, suggesting that some might argue it doesn’t apply to everyone. Christie responded by asserting that if Trump were convicted and sent to jail, such arguments would be dispelled.
The conversation shifted to the possibility of legal troubles for Trump after the election. Christie mentioned Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, taking an immunity deal, implying potential criminal involvement. Hostin pressed Christie on what would happen if Trump were in the Oval Office while facing legal challenges. Christie acknowledged that in such a scenario, Trump might direct his attorney general to dismiss the charges.
Hostin and others at the table questioned why Trump shouldn’t be removed from the ballot now under the Constitution. Christie reiterated his concern that doing so could turn Trump into a martyr and argued that the people of the country should decide through the democratic process. He expressed confidence that voters would not reelect Trump and emphasized the need to trust in democracy. Christie concluded by highlighting the American people’s ability to see through challenges, as evidenced by the 2020 election results.
“But there will because people will say that that the law does not apply to everyone,” interjected co-host Whoopi Goldberg.
“They won’t say that Whoopi when they convict him after that and send him to jail,” Christie shot back.
“If that happens! We’ve seen this… Well, I know you all think it will,” Goldberg replied over cross-talk at the table.
“Well, when Mark Meadows stands up and testifies again. Look, his former chief of staff decides an immunity deal. Now, I did this for seven years, as you know,” Christie replied, adding:
No one takes immunity unless they’ve committed crimes. All right, so Meadows is now going to say I’ve committed a crime at his direction, and he committed crimes in front of me. This is not some left winger accusing him. This is a founder of the Freedom Caucus who was his chief of staff.
“But, Governor, what happens if this happens after the election and he’s sitting in the Oval Office?” Hostin replied.
“Well, it’s two different problems, right? If it happens after the after the convention, that’s a Republican Party problem,” Christie said, adding he believes Trump would lose the election as a result.“What happens if he’s in the Oval Office?” demanded Hostin.
“Well, if he’s in the Oval Office, he’s going to direct his attorney general to dismiss the charge,” Christie conceded.
“Then why not take him out now? Under the Constitution?” demanded Hostin.
“For the political reason, he just said,” interjected Joy Behar.
Christie agreed with Behar, adding, “Because Sunny, it makes him a martyr.”
“And I think it makes him more likely than not to continue to foment division and discord in this country in a way that is destructive to our democracy. And I think I believe in democracy. I believe the people of this country will not reelect Donald Trump. And I think we need to have more confidence in the people in the country. And remember in 2020, in the midst of all the Covid stuff, which should help an incumbent, Right? Crisis usually helps the incumbent. The American people saw through all of it and they voted for Joe Biden.”
