The former governor of New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie, former ally of Donald Trump who has become one of his most virulent critics, is embarking on the 2024 presidential race according to official documents filed on Tuesday, June 6, by presenting himself as the only candidate capable of standing up to the former president.
Chris Christie, 60, known for his combative style, has registered his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). He joins an arena already full of right-wing White House contenders, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, who is due to make his candidacy official on Wednesday. Chris Christie is scheduled to make a public announcement Tuesday night in the state of New Hampshire.
" READ ALSO Alexandre Devecchio: "Trump-DeSantis, the new populist deal"
In 2016, he had already sought the nomination in the Republican primary, before bowing and supporting Donald Trump. By the time, he had become one of his close advisers. But he says he broke with him when the tycoon refused to acknowledge his 2020 presidential defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. Chris Christie, still very low in the polls, has already begun to attack Donald Trump, suggesting that the Republican favorite, according to opinion polls, was "afraid" to debate with serious opponents. Donald Trump has hinted that he could dry at least one of the first two debates. "If he really cares about the country — and I have big doubts about that — then he has to go, and he shouldn't be afraid," Christie said. The former governor criticized Donald Trump on several other fronts, including the multiple investigations targeting him and calling him a "puppet of Putin" after ambiguous remarks by the businessman on the war in Ukraine.