Christie: I’m not going to change

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) dismissed criticism of his outspoken public persona on Wednesday.

“I’m not going to change,” he said.

During Christie’s appearance on “Fox & Friends,” hosts said that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had questioned how a recent video of Christie telling a protestor to “sit down and shut up” would be perceived nationally. Christie’s combative personality is both central to his political image and, according to some, a potential liability should he choose to run for president in 2016.

But Christie dismissed that talk.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I am who I am,” he said.

He also approached the topic of 2016 cautiously — and pushed back when asked who might run.

“I think we should all take a deep breath,” he said. “It’s a very serious decision for anyone to make to run for president of the United States. People should do that deliberatively, and then make whatever decision they think is best for themselves, their family and our country.”

He was equally tempered when hosts noted that in exit polls on Tuesday, voters had named him as a possible presidential contender.

“Polls two years away from a race that I’m not even in don’t mean a whole lot to me,” he said.

Christie is considered a potential 2016 candidate for the GOP nomination.

This election cycle, he traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire to hit the trail for candidates. Both states are common stops for presidential hopefuls, because they hold their nominating contests early.

Christie appeared on the program fresh off a good election.