MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Former New Jersey Governor and Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie had previously wagered a symbolic five dollars on Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances in the 2024 election, expressing a lack of confidence in her winning. During an interview on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Christie commented that five dollars was “not a lot of conviction” for “a guy from New Jersey,” underscoring his serious doubts about her and President Joe Biden’s re-election prospects.
Christie’s skepticism turned out to be well-founded, as election results ultimately confirmed Harris and Biden’s loss. The former governor’s comment about his “$5 bet” was widely circulated after Mediaite covered the interview, highlighting his pragmatism regarding the Democrats’ chances in what became a contentious election cycle.
In the same interview, Christie also voiced concerns about former President Donald Trump’s potential response to an electoral defeat. “What’s the evidence that he will [accept the results]?” Christie asked, expressing doubt that Trump would change his stance on conceding elections. He suggested Trump’s influence in 2024 would be diminished compared to 2020, when Trump’s refusal to accept the results held significant sway as the incumbent president.
Christie, a former ally of Trump turned critic, has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s handling of election integrity and has repeatedly urged the GOP to move beyond Trump’s polarizing influence. His remarks come as Republican candidates continue to grapple with Trump’s dominance in the polls and his hold over the party’s base, complicating the GOP’s efforts to present a unified front in the general election.
