Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) has not endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
In an interview with Axios published Tuesday, Christie, a Trump supporter, said there was “no way” he could bring back the former president’s campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.
“I couldn’t help him,” Christie said.
Christie pointed to a recording Trump played at this Texas rally of the song “Justice for All,” sung by a man jailed for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, uprising. The recording was used to raise funds to support the families of Trump supporters locked up on charges that related to the Capitol riots.
Trump’s embrace of lawbreakers was criticized by some Senate Republicans.
“If you have a January 6th chorus at a rally and you show that video — I just don’t think that person is fit for the presidency,” said Christie, a former federal prosecutor.
Christie sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, but backed out and endorsed Trump. He made it clear that he did not want Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to run for president.
“Do I have concerns about him? Of course, but you probably have concerns about other candidates besides yourself,” Christie told Axios.
Christie continued to support Trump until the former president lied about the 2020 election.
Last week, Christie told Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that he would make a decision to run for president in May.
He has reached out to voters, including at an event Monday in New Hampshire, and is weighing whether he has a path to winning the GOP nomination.
In addition to Trump, who announced his candidacy shortly after the November midterm elections, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have entered the GOP race.
More Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, appear likely to announce their candidacies in the coming months.