The field of candidates for the Republicans in the race for the White House continues to grow: Now the former governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, also wants to become a presidential candidate. In internal party polls, however, Trump leads.
Ahead of next year’s US presidential election, former Trump adviser Chris Christie is another Republican who has thrown his hat in the ring. The ex-president’s current critic and former prosecutor submitted his formal application documents. “I want your support,” Christie said in front of an audience in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Christie previously wanted to be his party’s presidential candidate in 2016, but withdrew after poor results in the primaries. Christie is considered a former confidante of ex-President Donald Trump. In 2020 there was a rift – because Trump refused to recognize Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election at the time.
“Trump made us smaller”
The 60-year-old attacked the ex-president directly in his speech: “Donald Trump made us smaller by dividing us even further and playing one group against another every day.” Trump is obsessed with the mirror, never admits a mistake, always blames someone else for mishaps, and always wants to take credit for everything that goes well, Christie said.
Trump commented on Christie’s speech on his Twitter replacement Truth Social as “boring” – it was difficult to bear. Christie also criticized that there are applicants for the candidacy who “say that we shouldn’t care about what’s happening in Ukraine”. Those politicians said Americans shouldn’t care “that Russia wants to bring back a free and freedom-loving country under its thumb,” said Christie, who detailed US history in his speech.
Official application from Pence is still pending
Trump had already declared last November that he wanted to run again in the 2024 presidential election. In the meantime, the field of Republican candidates has grown significantly. In addition to former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, several others have announced their applications in recent weeks.
Trump’s former deputy Mike Pence has also submitted the necessary documents – his official announcement is expected this Wednesday. In internal party polls, Trump is ahead.