Trump ‘Dead Wrong’ on 2020 Election, Says Chris Christie in Focused Attack
Former Republican Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie sharpened his criticism against former President Donald Trump on Monday, stating that he is “dead wrong” about claims that the 2020 presidential was stolen due to voter fraud.
“[Trump] is dead wrong about the election. There is no evidence that the election was stolen. None. Not even stolen in one state, let alone the six states he would have needed to reverse the result of the election,” he said while speaking in New Hampshire on Monday, according to CNN reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere.
Christie, who was once a dedicated ally to the former president, was visiting New Hampshire to attend the Politics & Eggs speaker series hosted by the New England Council, according to multiple reports.
The series is a renowned political event in the state, and often serves as a forum for presidential candidates in the early stages of their campaigns—leading to increased speculation that Christie may be seeking a second presidential run in 2024.
Christie previously ran for president in 2016, but ended his campaign and offered support for Trump after he finished in sixth place out of eight candidates in the New Hampshire primary. Christie was considered a strong Republican ally during Trump’s administration, but has since become a vocal critic of the former president due to his unsubstantiated election fraud claims and involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Last month, Christie again knocked Trump’s continual focus on the 2020 election by stating that anyone who “looks backwards are losers.” More recently, he slammed the former president for his statements appearing to support Russian President Vladimir amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, suggesting that Trump has no “understanding of the world.”
Trump has previously hit back at Christie by claiming that he left New Jersey with a “record low” approval rating, and stating that voters have no interest in hearing from him.
Christie has repeatedly suggested that Trump would be an ill-fit to serve as president again in 2024, but has made no formal announcement to run for office himself. Late last year, Christie told the Associated Press that he believes he has the “skills” to do the job, but would only consider a 2024 run if he sees a clear pathway to winning.
“I feel like I have the skills and the talent and the ability to be able to make a difference in our party and in the country. And I’m certainly, at 59 years old, not ready to retire. But I’m not going to do it if I don’t see a pathway to winning. So that’s why I’m not making any decision now,” he added.
Trump has also not committed to a 2024 presidential bid, though he has hinted at the prospect heavily in the past year. A survey of Republican voters taken in November found that Trump would likely beat Christie in the primaries, with nearly 25 percent saying they would vote for the former president while just 7 percent indicated support for Christie.
Newsweek contacted a representative for Trump for comment.
Via Newsweek