New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump for president
FORT WORTH, Tex. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Thursday received the high-profile endorsement of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who called the billionaire the best candidate to take on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
“I’ve gotten to know all the people on that stage, and there is no one who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs both at home and around the world than Donald Trump,” Christie said during a press conference with Trump here in Fort Worth.
Christie said that he believes the party needs to elect the candidate most likely to beat Clinton. Trump, the governor said, is “undoubtedly” the best person for the job and “is rewriting the playbook of American politics.”
Trump, who stood smiling next to Christie as the governor gave his endorsement, called it “a very big endorsement.” He added that the endorsement means a lot to him and his campaign, calling it “the one endorsement” that he wanted most.
“Donald Trump is someone who when he makes a promise, he keeps it,” Christie said. “No one is going to get inside this guy’s head. There is no better fighter than Donald Trump.”
Christie said that he finalized his decision to endorse Trump after ending his own presidential campaign. He said he sat down with his family to discuss their role in the campaign moving forward and concluded “it was clear the only choice was Donald Trump, the best choice was Donald Trump.”
Both Christie and Trump emphasized that they have known each other for years both personally and professionally. Trump dismissed a question about whether Christie was being considered for the vice presidential nomination, saying that they never discussed that when Christie called to offer his endorsement.
The surprise backing is a blow to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is seeking to become the main challenger to Trump for the Republican nomination.
On Friday, Christie blasted Rubio’s escalating personal attacks against the billionaire, calling them an act of desperation. Christie added that Rubio represents the Washington establishment.
“I find it fascinating that somebody who barely shows up for work…is going to talk about somebody being unprepared,” Christie said.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump (AP Photo)
FILE – In this Feb. 7, 2016 file photo, then-Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a town hall-style campaign event at Hampton Academy in Hampton, N.H. Eyebrows shot up when Sarah Palin used a salty acronym, WTF, to mock the policies of President Barack Obama in 2011. How quaint. Five years later, Donald Trump has blown right past acronyms in a profanity-laced campaign for the Republican nomination that has seen multiple candidates hurl insults and disparaging remarks at one another and their critics. Before exiting the race, Christie predicted that he could beat Hillary Clinton in a debate, promising, “IÂ’ll beat her rear end on that stage.” (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, left, and Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talk during a commercial break during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by ABC News at the St. Anselm College Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman)