Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) reaffirmed his opposition to former President Donald Trump on Thursday, saying he will not vote for Trump “under any circumstances,” leaving the door open for a reluctant vote for President Biden or a third-party candidate in November.
Christie stated in an appearance on “The View” that he is not a fan of either major party’s option for the 2024 general election, but the former presidential candidate confirmed that he will not back the GOP front-runner.
“We have two awful choices here, in my view,” he went on to say. “The only thing I will commit to is: I’m not voting for Trump under any circumstances.”
Christie was Trump’s most outspoken adversary in the 2024 Republican primary, positioning himself as a staunch anti-Trump contender. His candidacy never took off, and he dropped out early last month.
He has yet to support a contender for the 2024 election, and on his way out, he disparaged Nikki Haley, Trump’s sole remaining credible opponent. Christie dismissively stated on a hot mic that Haley is going to be “smoked” in the primary. He has recently stated that he regrets his statements.
Christie has, however, left the door open to third-party support for both his vote and his candidacy. The former governor has been mentioned as a possible candidate for No Labels, a third-party initiative to field a nonpartisan “unity” general election ticket.
“Well, what I’ve said in the past is that, I’d have to see a path for anybody — not just me — but I think anybody who would accept that would need to see a path to 270 electoral votes,” Christie told reporters on Tuesday. “If there was ever a time in our lives when a third-party candidate could make a difference, I believe it is now.” The question is, “What kind of difference?”
He didn’t mention No Labels directly, just stating he’d have a “long conversation” with his wife if the party offered him a spot on the ticket.
Christie slammed No Labels in July, calling its efforts a “fool’s errand,” but the organization allegedly spoke with him about a campaign shortly after he pulled out of the GOP contest last month.
Former Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), chair of No Labels, stated last month that he would want to contact Christie and see if he is interested in running.
“He could be a very strong candidate,” Lieberman added. “That’s the kind of candidate No Labels is looking for.”
Biden supporters have criticized No Labels, claiming that running a “unity” ticket in 2024 will reduce Biden’s support and boost Trump’s return campaign.