Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Ex-NJ governor Chris Christie announces 2024 presidential candidacy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Jun 2023 00:14
4 Min Read

Chris Christie presents himself as the only contender willing to challenge front-runner Donald Trump.

  • x
  • Chris Christie following up with a speech to influential Republicans in Las Vegas, in November, 2021 (AP)
    Chris Christie following up with a speech to influential Republicans in Las Vegas, in November 2021 (AP)

Chris Christie, a former governor of New Jersey and a Republican, entered the 2024 presidential race on Tuesday, presenting himself as a political fighter and the only contender willing to challenge front-runner Donald Trump.

Being the only Republican candidate up to this point eager to deliver legitimately damaging blows to the former President, Christie offers a unique challenge. He filed his papers with the Federal Election Commission ahead of an evening announcement scheduled in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The 60-year-old native of Newark, who finished sixth in New Hampshire seven years ago, finally embraced Trump and was a major counselor to him before the two broke out over the businessman's refusal to concede loss in the 2020 election.

By claiming last month that the de facto Republican leader was "afraid" of engaging genuine opponents, Christie has already started picking on his old ally.

Trump said he could skip at least one of the first two Republican primary debates because he doesn't want to share the spotlight with candidates who are performing worse in the polls.

"If he really cares about the country -- and I have deep questions about that -- but if he really cares about the country, then he's going to get up there, and he shouldn't be afraid," Christie told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. 

Christie has criticized Trump on a variety of topics, calling him "Putin's puppet" over his isolationist stance on Russia's military operation in Ukraine and highlighting the expanding criminal investigations into the troubled tycoon.

A larger field supports Trump, but Christie's participation could disadvantage the front-runner in the polls, according to John Ellis, a former head of Fox News Election Night Decision Desk, who spoke to AFP.

"Because he will attack Trump relentlessly, Christie's campaign will get a ton of coverage in the mainstream press, which may help him do well in New Hampshire," said Ellis.

A day after former Vice President Mike Pence filed the necessary paperwork for his own White House run, Christie announced his campaign, creating the unique situation of two former running partners turning against one another.

Pence once served as Trump's Vice President but claimed to withdraw his support for Trump when he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. 

Related News

Faith in Trump dominates annual gathering of religious conservatives

Ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to launch GOP presidential bid

The evangelical Christian plans to officially launch his campaign on Wednesday in the early-voting state of Iowa, joining an already crowded field that includes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump's main rival.

Along with Doug Burgam, other candidates include former governors Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson. Doug Burgam is expected to make an announcement on Wednesday.

Polls consistently show Trump with leads over DeSantis of more than 30 points as the clear early frontrunner. The other candidates aren't breaking double digits.

However, hundreds of felony charges have already been brought against the former President in New York as a result of numerous criminal investigations into his personal and official activities.

Legal observers anticipate that Trump will soon be indicted again for mishandling official documents that were inappropriately stored at his Florida home after being taken without authority from the White House.

Ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

Christie, 60, enters the contest as an apparent underdog, six years after his failed presidential campaign in 2016.

In a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted May 9-15, only one percent of Republicans indicated that Christie would be their top choice.

Christie has called on the Republican party to get past Trump's unfounded allegations that the 2020 election was rigged, notably in his book "Republican Rescue", Reuters mentioned.

He told Axios in March that even if Trump was the Republican nominee in 2024, he would not vote for him.

A former federal prosecutor, Christie has maintained that he is the only candidate that is able to go head-to-head with Trump, unlike other potential rivals such as Pence and DeSantis, who have mostly avoided confrontation.

His second term as governor was ruined by the so-called Bridgegate scandal, in which two of his assistants were charged with intentionally closing lanes at the George Washington Bridge to New York City to punish a local mayor who refused to back his re-election campaign.

Read more: Ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to launch GOP presidential bid

  • Chris Christie
  • Tim Scott
  • US elections 2024
  • Mike Pence
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS