Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reacted to Donald Trump's characterization of his indictments as badges of "honor and courage."
Christie appeared on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday and was shown a clip of Trump from the Turning Point USA conference Saturday night. In the clip, Trump claimed: "Every time the radical Left Democrats, Marxists, communists, and fascists indict me, I consider it to be a great badge of honor and courage. I’m doing it for you. I’m being indicted for you." As Trump's opponent for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Christie scoffed at the statement.
TRUMP'S IOWA MISTAKES COULD PROVE COSTLY, GOP STRATEGISTS WARN
"He’s a liar and a coward. He’s not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct," Christie said. "When he says he’s doing it for us, that’s a lie. And when he was doing all the things that he was doing with those documents, it shows exactly what a coward he is."
A super PAC supporting Christie issued a political ad Sunday attacking Trump for not participating in a Republican primary debate. The clip shown on CNN Sunday implied that should Trump show up to a debate, he will be confronted with his indictments, loss to President Joe Biden, and impeachments. Christie encouraged Trump to appear at the debate to "defend his record." However, in an ABC interview, he referred to it as "a record that is not great."
GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie tells @GStephanopoulos that “patience and persistence” will wear down former Pres. Trump’s lead.
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 16, 2023
“When he’s up at one o’clock in the morning posting on Truth Social about me, I think we’re in his head.” https://t.co/KInxWHwCkT pic.twitter.com/PS8uPyImpn
Anchor Jake Tapper pointed out that 2024 opponent Will Hurd will be following Trump's precedent in 2016, according to Christie, in not committing to support the GOP nominee no matter who that person is. Hurd's decision to not commit his support will preclude him from the primary debate for the Republican Party. Eight years ago, when there were ten candidates on the debate stage, all but Trump agreed to support the candidate ahead of the nomination.
"I will sign the debate pledge, and I will take it every bit as seriously as [Trump] did in 2016," Christie said.
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Additionally, Christie has met the fundraising threshold to qualify for the primary debate.
Christie, Trump, and Hurd are facing off against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, political commentator Larry Elder, and businessmen Vivek Ramaswamy and Perry Johnson in the race to win the GOP presidential nomination.