- Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was caught on hot mic just before his dramatic announcement to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race
- Christie said of rival Nikki Haley ‘she’s going to get smoked’ and ‘she’s not up for this’
- He revealed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called him “petrified,” adding that he believed former President Donald Trump would win the Iowa caucuses.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was caught on a hot mic talking trash about 2024 Florida Governor and UN Ambassador hopeful Ron DeSantis. Nikki Haley just before she dropped out of the presidential race on Wednesday night.
At a town hall in New Hampshire, Christie told an audience that “it is clear to me that there is no path” to the Republican nomination, “and therefore I am suspending my campaign for president of the United States.”
The livestream on his campaign website included a conversation Christie had backstage before his dramatic announcement.
Christie is heard saying that Haley spent $68 million on her campaign, while DeSantis spent $59, while the former New Jersey governor just spent $12 million, noting that he was the one “punching above their weight.”
“And she’s going to get smoked, and you and I both know this, she’s not against this,” Christie can be heard saying about Haley.
He also revealed that DeSantis called him “petrified,” adding that he believed former President Donald Trump would win Iowa.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was caught on a hot mic talking trash about 2024 Florida Governor and UN Ambassador hopeful Ron DeSantis. Nikki Haley just before she dropped out of the presidential race
A man is heard telling Christie that Haley is 20 points behind Trump in New Hampshire, then asks the governor if he believed Trump would win Iowa.
“Yes,” Christie replied before revealing his phone call with Florida’s governor.
The man then said he expected DeSantis to drop out of the 2024 race after Monday’s Iowa caucuses.
The video clip is then deleted.
Christie then appeared on stage in Windham, New Hampshire, and pulled the plug on his presidential bid.
He averaged about 12 percent support in New Hampshire, ranking third behind Trump and Haley.
He anchored his presidential bid to be the best candidate to oppose Trumpism, while Haley, DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy continued to say some positive things about the former commander in chief.