Chris Christie enters 2024 Presidential race, attacks Trump as ‘self-consumed, self-serving, mirror hog’
Once a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, Chris Christie has now entered into the 2024 Presidential race against the Trump. The former New Jersery Governor announced his presidential bid on Tuesday
After wasting some time in targeting Trump over his false 2016 claims and policies, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, announced his 2024 presidential bid at Saint Anselm College, New Hampshire on Tuesday. The former adviser to Trump in 2016, presented himself as the only candidate in the growing Republican field willing to go toe-to-toe with the "self-serving" front-runner, Donald Trump.
After the remarkable victory of Donald Trump in 2016, Christie turned into a vocal critic of the former president over his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.
After criticising Donald Trump over directly and accusing him of shirking responsibility for mistakes while caring only about himself at the town hall-styled event, Christie kicked off his White House bid on Tuesday. "A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving, mirror hog is not a leader," he said.
Christe blamed Trump for America's failed immigration policy. At some point in his address, the politician adopted a mocking impression of Trump claiming he would build a southern border wall at Mexico's expense.
The blows of criticism by Christie went hand-in-hand with Donald Trump's accusations against the Former New Jersey Governor.
In a social media post, Donald Trump called Christie a "failed governor" and said his rival's speech "rambled all over the place."
Dim chances for Chris Christie, says Reuters poll
So far, Christie, 60, has not fared will in a public opinion poll. He was able to garner only 1 per cent of support from potential Republican primary voters in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May. On the other hand, Trump was able to secure 49% support and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' 19% support.
Other Republicans in the race are former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Senator Tim Scott. Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, is set to enter the race on Wednesday.
Christie often tries to present himself as a sensible alternative to Trump, saying the former president ‘made us smaller’ by dividing Americans and criticising Biden for doing the same.
Calling the US debt ceiling not the best possible deal for the country, Christie applauded both sides for averting catastrophe.
"Governing is about compromising," he said. "When did compromise become such a dirty word?"
‘Bridgegate’ scandal
In 2016, Christie ended his presidential bid after a disappointing finish in the New Hampshire primary. Christie could end up playing the role of spoiler, a position he occupied in 2016. Two successful tenures of Christie as governor of Democratic-leaning New Jersey were tarnished by his involvement in the so-called ‘Bridgegate’ scandal. Under the scandal, two allies deliberately shut down lanes at the heavily trafficked George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York City to punish a local mayor for failing to endorse Christie's re-election.
Christie maintained his stance that he was unaware of the plot at that time, but is facing a criminal trial for the two allies testified that the governor knew about the lane closures.
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Business NewsNewsWorldChris Christie enters 2024 Presidential race, attacks Trump as ‘self-consumed, self-serving, mirror hog’
First Published:7 Jun 2023, 06:53 AM IST
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