Former Latest Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seen here in Las Vegas in 2022, has called former President Donald Trump a puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ellen Schmidt | Las Vegas Review-Journal | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
Former Latest Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, certainly one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal Republican critics, is poised to announce his 2024 presidential campaign next week, an individual aware of the matter told CNBC on Wednesday.
Christie, 60, is anticipated to launch his long-shot bid during a town hall event in Manchester, Latest Hampshire, on Tuesday, said the person, who declined to be named ahead of the announcement.
The previous governor’s announcement is ready to return lower than two weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially joined the Republican primary race, becoming a top rival to Trump, who currently boasts a commanding lead within the polls.
Of the polls of the possible primary field that include Christie, most show him within the low single digits.
The newest presidential bid marks Christie’s second shot on the White House. He ran for the Republican nomination in 2016, dropping out after placing sixth within the Latest Hampshire primary. He endorsed Trump soon thereafter.
But Christie in recent months has railed against Trump repeatedly and criticized other GOP presidential hopefuls, a lot of whom appear to be taking pains to avoid direct conflict with their biggest competition.
“Donald Trump is a TV star, nothing more, nothing less,” Christie said last month. “Let me suggest to you that in putting him back within the White House, the reruns will probably be worse than the unique show.”
Christie was elected governor of the historically blue state in 2009 and served for 2 terms, the utmost allowed under term-limit rules. He gained national attention as governor for his connection to the 2013 “Bridgegate” scandal, during which commuter lanes were shut down on the George Washington Bridge connecting Latest Jersey and Latest York in retaliation against a mayor who refused to back Christie’s reelection bid.
The Supreme Court in 2020 reversed fraud convictions against two of Christie’s aides who had played key roles within the scandal.
Allies of the previous governor earlier this week launched a brilliant PAC, Tell It Like It Is, encouraging him to run for president. The PAC and members of its leadership team didn’t immediately reply to CNBC’s requests for comment on Christie’s plans.
Christie is ready to deliver remarks and take questions from an audience at a town hall on the Latest Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, in response to NBC News. Trump hosted a controversial town hall event at the identical college weeks earlier.
The Republican field could proceed to grow after Christie jumps in. Former Vice President Mike Pence said he’ll announce his presidential plans in June, and Latest Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he’ll choose a 2024 bid in the approaching weeks.