Donald Trump re-posted a tweet featuring a bloated photo of Chris Christie on Truth Social.
.@ChrisChristie needs to run. Not for President. He just needs to run. pic.twitter.com/DUZ3U6JR1A
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) May 31, 2023
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is preparing to announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. Sources have confirmed that Christie will make his announcement at a town hall event in Manchester, New Hampshire. This marks Christie’s second attempt at securing the Republican nomination, following his sixth-place finish in the 2016 New Hampshire primary as reported by NBC.
Christie’s political trajectory took a surprising turn when he endorsed Donald Trump just days before Super Tuesday in 2016. The move lent credibility to Trump’s campaign and resulted in a close alliance between the two. Christie went on to lead Trump’s presidential transition team and assisted in debate preparation against Joe Biden in 2020. However, Christie has since become a vocal critic of Trump, particularly regarding his refusal to concede the 2020 election and his promotion of baseless claims of widespread election fraud.
Despite their previous alliance, Christie has expressed his belief that Republican candidates cannot defeat Trump by aligning themselves too closely with him. As a political contributor on ABC News, Christie has consistently criticized Trump’s actions and policies. In recent town hall meetings held in New Hampshire, a swing state, Christie has continued to engage with voters and address their concerns.
During these town hall events, Christie has discussed his 2016 decision not to challenge Trump directly. He admitted that he and other candidates made a strategic error in underestimating Trump’s appeal, believing they could outlast him in the race. Christie also defended his endorsement of Trump at the time, stating that he believed he could shape Trump into a better candidate and president, a belief that ultimately proved to be unfounded.
Chris Christie’s tenure as New Jersey governor, from 2010 to 2018, faced scrutiny during the Bridgegate case. This political scandal involved lane closures at the George Washington Bridge allegedly orchestrated as retaliation against a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse Christie’s re-election. Prior to his governorship, Christie served as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush.
In the race for the 2024 GOP nomination, Christie will face competition from notable figures such as Donald Trump, Senator Tim Scott, Governor Ron DeSantis, Governor Nikki Haley, Governor Asa Hutchinson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, conservative talk radio host Larry Elder, and businessman Perry Johnson. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also expected to announce a potential bid in the coming weeks.
