Former President Trump called out fellow Republican Presidential candidate Chris Christie, suggesting the former New Jersey Gov. is only running in the GOP primary because Trump didn’t give him a spot in his cabinet.
“I mean, I heard they booed Christie off the stage today, is that true?” Trump asked his supporters at Saturday’s Florida Republican Party’s Freedom Summit in Kissimmee, Fla.
Christie was booed on stage at the event Saturday by Trump supporters. Between jeers, he tried to tell the crowd that they could reject his arguments, he just needed to be able to say them first.
He said the pettiness and anger shown by the attendees doesn’t bother him, what does, is the “atrocities that are going on in Israel.”
Trump, the event’s headliner, asked the crowd who got louder boos from the crowd, Christie or former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The crowd replied that Christie did.
“I heard they virtually booed him off the stage,” Trump said. He then questioned Christie’s campaign. “What’s it all about? Is he just doing it because I didn’t give him a job in the administration?”
In the past, Christie said he turned down repeated offers from the Trump administration to join the staff, including offers to be Trump’s Homeland Security secretary, Veterans Affairs secretary and the U.S. ambassador to Italy.
After ending his own campaign in 2016, Christie endorsed Trump for the Republican nomination. Their once friendship has now turned sour. Christie and Trump often criticize the other as they battle for the nomination in 2024.
Trump pointed to Christie’s polling numbers, which are far below the former president’s. Trump will be skipping the third GOP debate this week and opting for a rally nearby instead. He justified his upcoming absence, as well as the previous two debates because he is polling so far ahead of the other Republican candidates.
“I mean they are professional politicians, why would you debate people when you have a 55, 60, 62-point lead?” Trump said.
Other GOP candidates, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also spoke at the event.
The candidates will return to Florida on Wednesday, where they will participate in the third GOP primary debate in Miami. It will be hosted by NBC News on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.