Washington [US], June 7: Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on June 6 announced his campaign for the US presidency in 2024, saying he was the only candidate in the Republican party willing to go head-to-head with former President Donald Trump.
Reuters reported that Christie, 60, announced his campaign for the White House during a public event at Saint Anselm University in Manchester, New Hampshire.
A former federal prosecutor and former governor of New Jersey, Christie joined Trump 's successful 2016 campaign as an adviser. But then, he became a strong critic of the 45th US president's statements about the results of the 2020 election.
In his June 6 campaign statement, Mr. Christie directly attacked Mr. Trump, accusing the former president of shirking responsibility for mistakes while only caring about his ego. "A lonely egoist who thinks only of himself and only cares about his own interests is not a leader," Christie said.
Appearing on stage to music by Bruce Springsteen, Mr Christie tried to present himself as a reasonable replacement for Mr Trump, saying the former president "made us smaller" by dividing Americans and criticized President Joe Biden for doing the same thing "on the other side".
In a post on his social media site, Mr Trump called Mr Christie a "failed governor" and criticized his opponent's "long-winded" speech.
So far, Mr. Christie has not performed well in opinion polls. He received just 1% support in a Reuters/Ipsos poll of Republican candidates in May, compared with 49% for Mr. Trump and 19% for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis .
Other figures who have officially announced their campaign for the Republican nomination for the 2024 race include former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott. Former US Vice President Mike Pence, who stood with Mr. Trump, is expected to join the race on June 6.
Christie ran for president in 2016, but ended the campaign after receiving disappointing results in the New Hampshire primary and became the first major Republican to endorse him. Trump that year.
However, he urged Republicans to refute Mr Trump's claims about the 2020 US presidential election. He also told reporters he would not vote for Mr. Trump in 2024, even if the former president wins the Republican nomination.
That strategy may entice a section of Republican voters who are willing to leave Mr. Trump behind, but it remains unclear whether any of the Republican candidates can prevail without a Republican. whether the support of the force remains loyal to Mr. Trump or not.
Mr. Christie was accused of playing the role of spoiler, similar to what he did in 2016. That year, Mr. Christie's "dissection" of Senator Marco Rubio in a debate lasted several days. before Mr. Christie's relinquishment of the race undermined Mr. Rubio's position.
Mr. Christie first rose to national prominence thanks to his two terms as governor of New Jersey from 2009 to 2017. His confrontational approach to politics has earned him widespread praise from those in the country. admiration and also accusations of bullying from critics.
His tenure was marred by the scandal known as "Bridgegate". In that incident, two of his allies deliberately closed lanes on the busy George Washington Bridge connecting New Jersey and New York City to punish a local mayor for not supporting Christie's re-election. nominate.
Christie insisted he knew nothing of the plan at the time, but witnesses at a criminal trial in the trial of the two allies have claimed that the governor was aware of the lane closures.
Despite being one of Trump's earliest supporters, Christie was not considered for vice president or attorney general and was fired while leading the transition team. delivered the Trump administration just three days after the 2016 election.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper