Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a one-time adviser to Donald Trump, has delivered a stark revelation about the ex-president's mindset following the 2020 election. Christie claims Trump never genuinely believed his own narrative about a stolen election, privately accepting defeat while publicly propagating baseless fraud allegations.
Christie's Candid Assessment at Harvard Event
Speaking at an Institute of Politics event at Harvard Kennedy School, Christie pulled no punches in his criticism of Trump's post-election behavior. "The crap that Donald Trump put out there about the 2020 election is fiction. It's make-believe," the Republican politician declared. Christie, who has transformed from Trump ally to vocal critic, provided insider perspective on Trump's true feelings during the contentious election period.
"He Thought He Lost"
Christie revealed Trump's private admissions, stating, "And by the way, I was there in 2020. He doesn't even believe it. He didn't believe it. He thought he lost. And he was afraid he was gonna lose all during that fall." This contradicts Trump's public stance, where he has consistently maintained the election was fraudulent and rigged in favor of President Joe Biden.
Trump's Contradictory Voting Behavior
The former president's actions have frequently contradicted his rhetoric about election integrity. Despite repeatedly attacking mail-in voting as "fraudulent" and "cheating," Trump and his family recently utilized this method to cast ballots in a Florida special election. This hypocrisy extends to Trump's August 2020 claims that mail-in ballots represented "a very dangerous thing for this country" because they enabled cheating.
Executive Order Controversy
In a legally questionable move last week, Trump issued an executive order attempting to ban the U.S. Postal Service from sending absentee or mail-in ballots to voters not appearing on a Department of Homeland Security citizenship list. This action, criticized by election experts, represents Trump's continued efforts to undermine voting methods he has personally utilized.
Christie's Political Evolution
Christie's relationship with Trump has undergone significant transformation. After endorsing Trump during the 2016 presidential election following his own campaign suspension, Christie supported Trump again in 2020 before turning against him. In June 2023, Christie announced another presidential run, admitting in a CNN interview that he was "wrong" about Trump. Though he dropped out early in the race, Christie now regularly appears on ABC News' This Week as a political analyst, frequently criticizing his former ally.
Broader Republican Criticism
During Monday's Harvard event, Christie extended his criticism beyond Trump to the broader Republican Party. He accused the GOP of having "no principles," stating, "Even for people who agree with some of the stuff the president is doing, if you're really honest with yourself, you know it's not based on principle." Christie characterized Trump's decision-making as purely self-interested, adding, "He wakes up every morning and tries to figure out what is the best thing for him to do in his self-interest that day, and that day only."
Election Integrity Assurance
When questioned about future elections, Christie expressed confidence in American democracy. Asked whether the country would experience "fair and equal" elections in November and 2028, Christie insisted, "We've never not had fair and equal elections, so we will have them again." This statement directly challenges the narrative of widespread election fraud that Trump has promoted since 2020.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment regarding Christie's allegations. Christie's remarks represent one of the most direct challenges from within Republican circles to Trump's election fraud narrative, particularly significant given their former advisory relationship and Christie's insider perspective on Trump's 2020 campaign mindset.
