New Jersey residents almost forgot New Jersey Governor Chris Christie once he left office. One thing that might never be forgotten is a photo of the governor as he and his family sat on the beach at Island Beach State Park during a statewide shutdown.
NJ.com photographer Andrew Mills took that picture.
Christie ordered all state parks closed during that shutdown, even the popular Island Beach State Park. As he and his family sunned, a plane unsuspectingly flew by, taking photos of the governor breaking his own shutdown order.
As Christie puts himself out there in another run for President, his meme that keeps giving is also out there once again.
In July 2017, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made headlines when he was photographed lounging on a beach closed to the public due to a state government shutdown. The photos sparked a wave of public backlash and became an internet meme overnight.
The shutdown occurred when the state’s legislature could not reach a budget agreement, leading to the closure of all nonessential government operations, including state parks and beaches. However, despite the closures, Governor Christie and his family were granted access to the state-owned Governor’s Beach House in Island Beach State Park, previously used by the governor as a vacation home.
When asked by reporters about his beach outing during the shutdown, Christie responded flippantly, stating that he “didn’t get any sun” because he was wearing a hat.
The photographs of Christie on the beach quickly went viral, with many social media users photoshopping the governor into famous scenes and locations. Memes featuring Christie at the Last Supper, on the moon, and in front of famous works of art flooded the internet.
The incident received widespread criticism from New Jersey residents, with many feeling that it was a clear example of politicians using their power to benefit themselves while ignoring the needs of the public. Christie’s approval rating reached an all-time low of 15% following the scandal.
While Christie initially defended his actions, he later issued an apology, acknowledging that he had “made a mistake” and that his visit to the beach had sent the wrong message to the people of New Jersey.
The “Beachgate” scandal serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government and the power of social media to hold public officials accountable. It also demonstrates the potential for seemingly minor incidents to have far-reaching consequences, both in the political arena and on the internet.