MORRISTOWN, NJ – ABC News contributor Chris Christie was ripe this weekend, ripping into his former friend, President Donald Trump. After a fallout with the former president, Christie rolled the dice on Kamala Harris and lost. Now, he has joined the left-leaning choir of anti-Trumpers in the media.
In the world of political pot-stirring, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a master chef. And this Sunday morning on ABC’s This Week, Christie was in rare form, doling out backhanded compliments to President-elect Trump’s cabinet choices before sinking his teeth into the Gaetz-shaped piñata that Trump dangled in front of the Department of Justice.
Christie, who has been a Trump critic since their 2016 political bromance fizzled, called the now-withdrawn nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General “abominable.” For context, Gaetz has been under the microscope of a House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor. Yes, the plot thickens faster than a Thanksgiving gravy.
“I think Matt Gaetz was an abominable pick,” Christie told Jon Karl. “It was Donald Trump overreading his mandate. Well, he got smacked back.” Translation: Christie didn’t just take aim; he aimed, fired, and landed a direct hit on Trump’s decision-making process. For someone still licking his wounds over being overlooked for the Attorney General position in 2016, Christie’s critique felt as sharp as a well-sharpened scalpel.
The former governor, though, didn’t completely rain on Trump’s cabinet parade. He gave nods of approval to Doug Burgum, the North Dakota governor tapped for a yet-to-be-specified role, and Brooke Rollins, reportedly nominated for Agriculture Secretary. “She’s a very bright woman,” Christie noted, proving he’s capable of sprinkling sugar amid the salt.
Still, it’s the Gaetz pick—and subsequent withdrawal—that stole the spotlight. According to reports, Gaetz dropped out after a reality check from Trump himself, who admitted the nomination was doomed to fail in the Senate. It’s rare for Trump to retreat, but Christie wasn’t exactly lining up to hand out participation trophies.
This exchange reminds us of the complicated, sometimes messy, sometimes hilarious relationship between Christie and Trump. Once a staunch supporter, Christie has grown increasingly comfortable playing the role of Trump’s pragmatic critic. And with the former governor hinting at another presidential run in 2024, you can bet he’s not done lobbing grenades at Trump’s decision-making anytime soon.