The former governor of New Jersey announced Wednesday his withdrawal from the Republican primaries which begin in a few days. He was one of Donald Trump’s most vocal critics.
One less rival facing Donald Trump: former New Jersey governor Chris Christie announced on Wednesday that he was ending his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.
This withdrawal marks the exit of the most virulent critic of the former President of the United States.
Chris Christie said Wednesday he is ending his Republican presidential bid just days before the first Iowa caucuses, in a last-ditch effort to deny Donald Trump a transition path to the nomination.
“My goal has never been to simply be a voice against the hatred, division and selfishness of what our party has become under Donald Trump”said Christie in New Hampshire.
“I’ve always said that if there came a time in this race where I didn’t see a way to achieve this goal, I would step aside.”did he declare. “This is not a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I am suspending my campaign for president of the United States tonight.”
It was unclear whether the ex-governor would immediately support any of his rivals, but he was heard criticizing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley during a livestream hosted by his campaign before the ‘event. “She’s going to get smoked”, he said. “She’s not up to that.” He said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called him, petrified of supporting candidate Haley, but the microphone was cut off before Christie finished speaking.
This abandonment is a surprise, given that Chris Christie had staked the success of his campaign on the first New Hampshire primary, which will take place in less than two weeks. He insisted Tuesday night that he had no plans to leave the race, continuing to present himself as the only candidate willing to take on the former president directly.