Chris Christie said he will always answer questions put to him, including about Donald Trump, but said it was refreshing to have an interview that didn’t focus on the former president.
The 2024 hopeful has drawn criticism for focusing his campaign on being anti-Trump, but Christie said Saturday at a conservative conference in Atlanta, Georgia, that he doesn’t mind the barrage of questions about Trump. Trump’s former aide says his ex-boss happens to be the person he’s often asked about as a candidate in the 2024 presidential race.
After breathing a sigh of relief for a conversation that wasn’t about Trump, Christie gathered with reporters in Atlanta for the conference where he was faced with a series of questions about the 2024 GOP frontrunner.
“This is the most refreshing interview I’ve had in the campaign so far because the first six questions weren’t about Trump,” the former New Jersey governor told conservative radio host Erick Erickson at his The Gathering conference on Saturday. “And then question seven is, why do you talk so much about Trump?”
Former New Jersey governor and 2024 hopeful Chris Christie said Saturday it was “refreshing” to face questions unrelated to Donald Trump
Christie led the ex-president’s transition team in 2016 and was a close ally until after the 2020 presidential election and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, when he became a harsh critic
“I’m trying to answer your questions,” he said of the generic “you” by which he meant all media. “I’m not frustrated with the process (of the presidency). Kids complain about that. I answer what I’m asked – and if asked, I’m happy to talk about it. But if I’m not asked, I have plenty of ideas, as you can see, about what I want our future to look like.’
Christie is one of six Republican presidential candidates to appear in Atlanta this year for Erickson’s conference themed Forward: Which Way. Friday’s attendees included Senator Tim Scott (RS.C.), former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and ex-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Following Christie’s performance on Saturday, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage for Erickson’s Q&A.
Christie insisted he is not “angry” or “frustrated” about the state of the race. the suit.
While head of Trump’s transition team in 2016 and an ally during his term, Christie quickly transitioned to being a harsh critic of the former president following the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
In June 2023, Christie announced that he would run against Trump — and several other candidates — for the 2024 GOP nomination.
Speaking at the conference in Atlanta on Saturday, the presidential candidate said it’s important to nominate a candidate who would be a president who puts the interests of the country above his own, something he says Trump has failed to do.
“How about doing this this time: we nominate someone who we know in our hearts will put the country first and not their self-interest first. Will place your children and grandchildren above their own children and grandchildren,’ Christie suggested. “Shall we nominate and choose someone like that?”
Christie sat down with conservative radio host Erick Erickson at his conference in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, Aug. 19, as part of a series of presidential candidates appearing just 10 miles from the jail where Trump will face his fourth and final indictment
The ex-governor of New Jersey seems giddy about running for president again and won’t be bothered by any attack.
“(My parents) can’t believe their oldest son got the chance to run for president of the United States not once, but twice,” he beamed. So there’s no reason for me to be angry or frustrated – I’m not. I am an incredibly happy person. Every day I’m glad I’m on the campaign trail.’
“I think I have something to say in this race — and not just about the former president,” he insisted. ‘I have enough to say, you will see all that – you have seen it. I’m not treading any new roads this morning.’
“But I do think this: Truth matters, it’s non-negotiable, it’s not. And character is important,” he concluded.
Erickson said at the start of the conference on Friday morning that he would try to get the candidates to share their thoughts on the country rather than ask them about their competition — including Trump.
He broke his rule a few times to ask questions about Trump or the recent charges against him in Georgia.
The conference took place just 10 miles from the jail where Trump and his 18 co-defendants will face charges in Georgia following the 41 racketeering charges on Monday night. This is the fourth and final indictment against Trump in about six months.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis gave Trump and the 18 others named in the indictment until noon on August 25 to turn themselves in voluntarily.
Christie complained that once Trump is indicted, he will be out on bail in four different jurisdictions while he runs for president.
Trump was not invited to Erickson’s conference and was not actually invited to the 2015 conference after the then-candidate said Megyn Kelly “had blood coming out of her eyes” when questioned during a primary debate.
Even if he did show up, there are murmurs that it would be possible Trump could be arrested if he stepped into Georgia after the charges were filed and he has yet to be booked.