Chris Christie, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, says that he "just can't" support former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign for the U.S. presidency.
Christie said as much in a recent interview with Axios.
This is certainly a big change from 2016, when Christie was one of the first big-name Republicans to come out in support of Trump's presidential campaign.
A lot, however, has changed since 2016. And, Christie's latest comments - stating that he "can't" support Trump's 2024 presidential bid - are not out-of-line with the stance that Christie has taken toward Trump in recent times.
During the interview, Axios asked Christie whether he would be backing Trump to be the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nominee.
Christie replied:
I can't help him. No way. Look, I just can't. When you have the Jan. 6 choir at a rally and you show video of it — I just don't think that person is appropriate for the presidency.
Christie, here, was referring to the recent campaign rally that Trump held in Waco, Texas. There, Trump played a song - Justice for All - sung by the Jan. 6 Choir, which includes individuals who have been incarcerated in relation to the Capitol protest that took place on Jan. 6, 2021.
It is looking more and more likely that the race for the presidency in 2024 is going to be a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden.
If Christie is not going to support Trump, therefore, it would appear that Christie is going to be voting for Biden. Christie, however, told Axios that this is not the case.
Christie said:
I can't imagine myself voting for Joe Biden, either. I don't know if I can vote for either of these guys. They're both too old. They're both out of touch with what's going on in the world right now.
It is unclear where this leaves Christie in terms of 2024. But, Axios reports that Christie "is seriously considering a 2024 presidential campaign.
Christie, in fact, is already testing the waters for a 2024 run. At a recent speech at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, Christie argued that Republicans need a candidate who can mount a real challenge to Trump on the debate stage.
It is clear that he is trying to set himself up as that person - as an anti-Trump Republican candidate.
Considering recent polling, it is hard to imagine that Christie would stand any chance in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, especially not if the main plank of his platform is "anti-Trumpism." Polls, on average, have Christie receiving less than 1% support in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
