NEWARK, N.J. – Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reignited his long-running feud with President Donald Trump during a weekend livestream with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, recounting the conversation he says permanently ended their relationship following the 2020 presidential election.
Christie’s remarks came as political debate continued over recently declassified CIA documents alleging Chinese efforts to influence the 2020 election and describing contacts involving American journalists. The documents have prompted renewed political discussion, though their contents and conclusions continue to be scrutinized.
Christie recalls final phone call
During the livestream, Christie said Trump called him while the 2020 election results were still being contested and asked what he should do next.
“The president called me two days later. Remember, it still wasn’t resolved. The election still wasn’t resolved,” Christie said. “He called me and he said to me, ‘Yeah, I’m probably not going to win this thing. What do you think I should do?'”
Christie said he advised Trump to formally recognize Joe Biden’s victory.
“I said, ‘You need to call Biden, congratulate him, invite him to the White House, shake his hand,'” Christie said. “If you do that, you’ll have a good reputation with the American people and whatever else you want to do with your life, it’ll be wide open to you.”
According to Christie, Trump rejected the advice.
“He said, ‘Well, I’m not going to do that. What else you got?’ And I said, ‘I don’t have anything else.’ And he goes, ‘Then I have nothing to talk to you about.’ And we have not spoken since.”
Trump answers with familiar insults
Trump responded after Christie’s comments by reviving one of his longstanding personal attacks against the former governor, mocking Christie’s weight on social media and in posts shared by supporters.
A widely circulated image claiming to show Trump threatening to “drop Chris Christie” on Iran is an edited meme, not an authentic social media post from the president. However, Trump has repeatedly used jokes about Christie’s weight during their years-long political feud.
Why it matters
Christie was one of Trump’s earliest and most prominent supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign before breaking with him after the 2020 election. His latest comments provide additional details about what he describes as the conversation that ended their alliance, highlighting a political rivalry that continues years later.
What happens next
Neither Christie nor Trump has indicated any interest in repairing their relationship. With both men continuing to comment publicly on one another, the long-running feud remains a recurring subplot in national Republican politics.
About this report
This article is based on Chris Christie’s public remarks during a livestream with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, public statements by President Donald Trump, and publicly released declassified CIA documents. The allegations contained in those intelligence documents have not been fully adjudicated, and public review of the materials is ongoing.
