Media

Chris Christie to give first cable news interview since viral beach photo

by Joe Concha - 07/18/17 1:20 PM ET

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) will appear on MSNBC at 4 p.m. Tuesday, in his first cable news interview since a photograph of him sitting on a closed New Jersey beach earlier this month went viral.

Christie will speak with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, who once served as President George W. Bush’s communications chief. MSNBC’s senior vice president of programming Jonathan Wald said the interview will also focus on “the Russia bombshells and the GOP Health Care meltdown.”

Exclusive. @ChrisChristie 1st interview since that day at the beach, the Russia bombshells, and GOP Health Care meltdown live 4pm @msnbc. https://t.co/DtAKrlQuxA

— Jonathan Wald (@jonathanwald) July 18, 2017

Christie’s approval ratings in New Jersey sank to an all-time low after photos of him on a beach he closed to the public amid a state government shutdown went viral, along with memes that quickly followed.

Chris Christie, New Jersey governor, enjoys beach he closed to public – BBC News https://t.co/W5M9h6b93o Really Chris? pic.twitter.com/wa7e5LxCvA

— V (@lanoirepapillon) July 18, 2017

Jersey Shore cast circa 2017 #ChrisChristie pic.twitter.com/2fA0fq1Pfx

— brandon® (@brandojerg) July 2, 2017

Chris Christie: From Here to Eternity pic.twitter.com/Rxf6uZhjLW

— Nell Scovell (@NellSco) July 2, 2017

A Monmouth University poll released Monday found that just 15 percent of New Jersey adults think Christie is doing a good job as governor, matching numbers reported by Quinnipiac University last month.

A whopping 80 percent disapprove of Christie’s performance, according to the Monmouth poll.

Members of Christie’s own party gave the former 2016 GOP presidential candidate a 30 percent approval rating, while Democrats clocked in at only 7 percent.

Christie was once considered the odds-on favorite to win the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, before the “Bridgegate” controversy that ensnared Christie aides who closed lanes on the George Washington Bridge to create a traffic jam for a political rival.