Among the double-digit number of candidates running for the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential race is Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey.
Once considered an ally and potential vice-presidential pick for former President Donald Trump, Christie has now become one of the GOP presidential candidates most vocal in opposing Trump.
A new interview delves deeper into Christie's views on Trump, President Joe Biden, and various political topics.
Chris Christie on Trump: Christie has publicly criticized Trump for skipping the first Republican debate, which aired on Fox Corp FOXFOXA and livestreamed on Rumble Inc RUM. The two candidates have exchanged insults against each other over the past months, and Christie shared his thoughts on Trump's indictments in a recent interview.
While talking with Susan Davis and Tamara Keith on “The NPR Politics Podcast,” he offered further critiques of Trump and emphasized the need for a shift in the Republican Party.
“I got into this race because I felt like no one was making that case. No one was willing to take the case directly to Donald Trump as to why he, and through his conduct, disqualified himself from ever being president of the United States again,” Christie said. “I think it’s important not only for my party, but for our country.”
Christie said it’s not the indictments that disqualify Trump from being president again, but also his conduct.
“I think it’s the conduct of the man that disqualifies him from being president, much more than the judgment of any individual prosecutor.”
Christie also said on the podcast that he wouldn’t have pursued several of the indictments against Trump.
“While I don’t approve of his conduct of paying off a porn star to hide an extramarital affair while you’re running for president, I do not think that’s something that should be a top priority of the Manhattan D.A.’s office.”
Christie said the two federal cases around the 2020 election and classified documents are appropriate.
“He is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as everybody in this country is. But I think particularly the classified documents case is one that he will have a very, very hard time, either legally or factually, getting out from under.”
Related Link: Chris Christie Says No Way In Hell To Being Trump's Vice President
Chris Christie on Joe Biden: The interviewers also questioned Christie, who was a former federal prosecutor, about efforts to impeach President Biden over his son Hunter Biden’s business operations.
Christie said there is not enough to impeach Biden “at this point.”
“I do think that it’s necessary, given what we’ve seen, for there to be oversight by the House. If that oversight then gives us evidence that the president was somehow involved,” Christie said.
Christie added that Biden has said he had no involvement with his son’s business, but there are phone calls that people have heard about that could become key evidence.
“I don’t think that’s the case at the moment, but I do think there’s enough smoke that the DOJ should be looking into it… and the House should be providing appropriate oversight to get the facts out.”
Christie on 2024 Election Issues: During the interview, Christie also shared his position on abortion.
“I think we fought as conservatives for 50 years to say this is not a federal issue, it’s a state issue,” he said.
The 2024 presidential candidate added that he hopes states weigh in on the issue of abortion over the next 16 months.
“After that, if there were a consensus, an obvious national consensus that was adopted by the Congress, I would consider signing such a piece of legislation. But I don’t think the federal government should preempt the rights of the states and their people to make these decisions.”
The former governor went on to say that some states are too strict on abortion (Oklahoma), while others are too lenient (New Jersey).
Another topic discussed in the podcast was Christie being the only Republican presidential candidate who opposes a ban on specialized health care for transgender youth.
“I thought what shaped my view is I’m a conservative Republican who doesn’t want the government telling mothers and fathers how to treat their children.”
Christie said no governor should tell parents how their children should be raised.
“No one loves my four children more than I do, and my wife does, and no one knows what’s better for our children than we do.”
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