
In a move that threatens the GOP’s unified front against Democrats in the 2024 elections, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has taken a stance that diverges from the majority of Republican voters and party leadership — along with the pledge he took to support the primary winner in the general election. He said he would not vote for President Donald Trump if he became the Republican nominee as expected.
Moreover, Christie’s announcement this week that he will not pardon Trump if elected president, made during his appearance on ABC’s “The View,” could be part of the neoconservative establishment’s last stand against the 45th president heading into the primary season.
He told the fawning liberal ladies of The View: “You don’t accept responsibility — too bad, go to jail.” While Christie’s scorched-earth never-Trump approach endears him to the leftist corporate media machine and the military-industrial complex, it is unlikely to gain him any support beyond his current distant fifth-place position in the GOP primary race.
Never could trust Chris Christie to be honest. He's made a career out of lying and deception … @GovChristie
Chris Christie Says He Won’t Vote For Trump, Breaking RNC Debate Pledge https://t.co/EuXwMRE5pG via @OANN
— SanDiegoPatriot3 (@SanDiegoDavo3) January 4, 2024
This declaration distances Christie from Trump and other Republican primary candidates like Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, who have pledged their support for the 45th president if he receives the party’s nomination.
Christie’s defiance comes when Trump’s influence within the party remains strong. Recent endorsements from House Republicans and polling data showing Trump leading the primary field suggest that Christie’s position may not resonate with the broader GOP electorate.
Chris Christie says he will NOT pardon Donald Trump if he becomes presidenthttps://t.co/YeFfMYAXbWhttps://t.co/YeFfMYAXbW
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 4, 2024
The former governor’s decision to break his oath with the RNC and his refusal to support President Trump highlight a worrying trend of individual agendas taking precedence over party unity. This is particularly critical in the lead-up to the 2024 election, where every Republican vote is crucial. His actions undermine his credibility and pose a risk to the GOP’s ability to present a united front against the Democrats.
Christie’s risky gamble in pursuing political power and putatively as part of his ambitions toward the White House challenges the party’s unity and cohesion. As the Republican Party strives to rally behind a single candidate to defeat Biden, maintaining solidarity and focusing on shared goals are paramount.