Trump on Christie dropping out: ‘I might even get to like him again’

by Lauren Sforza - 01/10/24 6:51 PM ET

Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media at a Washington hotel, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, after attending a hearing before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals at the federal courthouse in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Former President Trump said he may come around to liking Chris Christie again after the former New Jersey governor dropped out of the GOP primary race Wednesday night.

Trump also touted Christie’s hot mic incident earlier Wednesday, when Christie said Nikki Haley’s “gonna get smoked” in the race against the former president.

“I hear Chris Christie is dropping out of the race today — I might even get to like him again! Anyway, he was just caught on a hot mic making a very truthful statement: “She’s gonna get smoked…You and I both know it, she’s not up to this,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Christie announced that he was suspending his bid for the White House, saying that “there isn’t a path” for him to secure the nomination. In a hot mic episode before his campaign stop Wednesday in New Hampshire, Christie slammed Haley’s chances against the former president.

“I mean look, she’s spent like $68 million so far, just on TV — spent $68 million so far — $59 million by DeSantis, and we spent $12. I mean, who’s punching above their weight and who’s getting a return on their investment, you know?” Christie said. “And she’s gonna get smoked. And you and I both know it. She’s not up to this.”

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Like Trump, DeSantis said he agreed with Christie’s comments on Haley.

“I agree with Christie that Nikki Haley is ‘going to get smoked,’” DeSantis wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Haley’s campaign also issued a statement after Christie dropped out but did not comment on his remarks.

“Chris Christie has been a friend for many years. I commend him on a hard-fought campaign. Voters have a clear choice in this election: the chaos and drama of the past or a new generation of conservative leadership. I will fight to earn every vote, so together we can build a strong and proud America,” she said.

Tags 2024 presidential election Chris Christie Donald Trump GOP primary debate Nikki Haley Ron DeSantis