Likes Of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Troy Nehls Slammed By Chris Christie For Wanting Trump As Speaker: They Want To 'Kiss His Rear End In Public'

Former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, berated Republicans for publicly endorsing Donald Trump for Speaker of the House, accusing them of pandering to Trump’s vanity.

What Happened: On Sunday as reported by The Hill, Chris Christie, a potential Republican candidate for the 2024 Presidential race, lashed out at his party colleagues for backing former President Trump as the potential Speaker of the House of Representatives. He described their endorsement as a blatant public charm offensive targeted at Trump.

"This is them doing what they know Donald Trump likes, which is kiss his rear end in public," Christie said in an interview on ABC News, according to the report.

Christie asserted that these Republicans are well aware that public admiration is Trump’s weak spot, and it often results in him reciprocating their praise. He contended that this behavior is exacerbating existing problems.

After the extraordinary vote to oust the Speaker on Tuesday, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) announced his plan to endorse Trump for the position. Other supporters, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), also rallied behind this move. Greene voiced her support for Trump, referencing his proven track record as an erstwhile President.

See Also: McCarthy Resigns Post GOP Ouster: What Ex-GOP Speaker Says

Despite the public endorsements, Trump’s prospects of becoming the Speaker remain dubious due to the House Republicans’ conference rules. These regulations prevent individuals charged with a felony from taking on a position of authority.

Eventually, Trump endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for the position, while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is also a contender. The conference will host a candidate forum on Tuesday to decide which candidate to endorse ahead of the House vote anticipated the following day.

When queried, Christie did not reveal his preference between Jordan and Scalise, but he commended Scalise as a responsible legislator.

Why It Matters: The internal dynamics of the House Republicans have been a hot topic since the historic ousting of former Speaker, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), this month. Since then, several members, including Greene, have openly backed Trump for the role.

The former President himself has considered running for the position despite significant obstacles. The upcoming election for the Speaker role will be a critical test of the party’s direction and unity.

Photo by Bryan Littel on Shutterstock

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