Chris Christie Considering 2024 Run Regardless of Donald Trump’s Intentions
Christie #Christie
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has said he is not ruling out a 2024 presidential bid and that a potential run from former President Donald Trump would not deter him.
The Republican told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Friday that Trump, nor any other potential opponent, would not make him back out if he feels he is “the right person.”
Christie was governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. He sought the Republican presidential nomination for the 2016 election but suspended his candidacy in February that year and went on to endorse Trump.
However, he has strongly criticized the former president over his baseless claims that the 2020 election was subject to mass voter fraud.
“Are you thinking about running for president? We’ll get that one out of the way first,” Hannity asked Christie on Friday.
“Hey listen, I certainly am not ruling it out, Sean. A long way to go yet, but I’m not gonna rule it out, I think I have a lot to say and a lot to do for the country in the future so we’ll see how—see how the next few years go.”
“Would you challenge Donald Trump in a primary?” Hannity asked.
“I would not make my decision based on anyone else who’s running, Sean. If I believe that I am the right person and if my family supports it, those are the two things that would be most important to me.”
Hannity outlined what he viewed as Trump’s political agenda—including low taxes, “constitutionalists on the bench” and free market solutions to healthcare. He asked Christie if he disagreed with any of it.
“I agree with that entire agenda,” Christie said. “It’s something I’ve fought for my entire political career but I don’t think any of these decisions ever about running for president should be made based upon what other people are doing.
“I believe that have to be based on what you believe in your mind and your heart is best for the country. It’s so long away, Sean, we have no way of predicting what this is gonna look like.”
Grading the Trump presidency, Christie said overall he would give it “an A,” but added that: “There were some things that happened specifically at the end of the presidency that I think had some things that clouded his accomplishments, and that’s why we as a party need to emphasize the issues you just talked about.”
On January 10, Christie suggested to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that Trump should be impeached over the deadly Capitol riot on January 6.
“If I think it’s an impeachable offense, that’s exactly what I would do […] If inciting to insurrection isn’t, then I don’t know what it is,” he said.
Trump left the door open to another presidential run in comments made this week.
Further speculation about the GOP candidate is already mounting thanks in part to recent party praise for Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Vice President Mike Pence’s first major speech since leaving office which he delivered on Thursday.
Newsweek has asked Governor Chris Christie for comment on this article.
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