Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie officially launched his second presidential campaign on Tuesday, vehemently distancing himself from former President Donald Trump and appealing to Republicans to reject the GOP front-runner.
At a town hall event in New Hampshire, Christie admitted his previous support for Trump was a mistake, urging fellow Republicans to choose a new leader for the party. “I can’t guarantee you success, but I can guarantee you that at the end of it, you will have no doubt in your mind who I am and what I stand for and whether I deserve it,” he said. “That’s why I came back to New Hampshire to tell all of you that I intend to seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2024.”
Christie’s announcement follows New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu’s decision not to run and precedes former Vice President Mike Pence’s entry into the race. Christie aims to appeal to traditionally conservative, establishment-friendly Republicans, positioning himself as a counterpoint to Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
On Monday, Christie will field questions from Anderson Cooper and a live audience of Republicans from early GOP nominating states, as well as New Jersey and New York voters planning to participate in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Christie emphasized his ability to be a pugilist while advocating for compromise, critiquing DeSantis for never attempting to find middle ground. He also took shots at DeSantis and Trump for their unclear stances on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and dismissed some primary candidates as “pretenders” focused on insignificant, obscure issues.
Referring to Trump as a leader fixated on the mirror, Christie accused the former president of never admitting mistakes and constantly blaming others for failures. Christie believes he is well-suited to challenge Trump in the primary and appeal to independent voters in a potential general election face-off with President Joe Biden. His campaign has the backing of a new super PAC named “Tell It Like It Is.”
Christie started his political career in 2011, considering a run against then-President Barack Obama. His 2016 presidential bid was short-lived, but he ultimately endorsed Trump and became a close adviser. After Trump’s defeat and subsequent efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Christie pivoted, positioning himself as one of Trump’s key Republican critics.
During his speech, Christie rejected the notion of “Trump voters,” stating, “I voted for him twice. Am I a Trump voter? Hell no, man.” Christie previously served as New Jersey governor from 2009 to 2017 and as US attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008, where he successfully prosecuted Jared Kushner’s father on criminal tax evasion and witness tampering charges.
