I am pleased to assist Chris Christie in preparing for his debate with Donald Trump. Christie had previously helped prep Trump for his debate against Hillary Clinton in 2016, where he played the role of Clinton aggressively to give Trump a sense of confidence. Now, sitting with the former New Jersey governor in the Times cafeteria, I believed that I could adequately portray Trump.
Both Christie and I have known Trump for decades, and let’s be honest, we’d like to see Christie on that debate stage. After witnessing Republicans bow down to Trump for years, it is refreshing to see the disgraced former president face an opponent who can match his cunning.
Even my Republican sister, who is not inclined to vote for Trump but may do so if it comes down to Trump vs. President Biden, donated money to Christie to secure his spot on the debate stage.
Trump has boasted about being so far ahead of his Republican rivals that he might not even bother showing up for the first debate in August hosted by Fox News. However, Christie believes that Trump’s ego will compel him to participate. As Christie humorously stated, Trump cannot be absent from a big TV show that he is not on. With Trump’s current focus on Truth Social, it would not bode well for him if nobody pays attention.
I cautioned Christie about Trump’s ability to fight in unconventional ways, making it difficult to determine the best approach against him. Clinton attempted to rise above his tactics, while Marco Rubio imitated his crude style. Christie, however, points out that both Clinton and Rubio are among the most unskilled politicians he has ever encountered. Christie believes that Trump has never faced someone who truly understands and can counter his tactics, particularly someone from New Jersey who comprehends the New York persona. For individuals like Christie, who have grown up and lived their entire lives in this environment, Trump is just one of many people they know with that personality. They understand his game.
Christie clarified that he is not running to seek revenge for Trump’s mishandling of his Covid case. During debate prep in September 2020, Trump failed to inform Christie and others that he had tested positive for Covid the day before. Consequently, Christie spent seven days in the ICU. Christie also emphasized that seeking payback because Trump did not appoint him as attorney general is not his motive. It is worth noting that Jared Kushner resented Christie for imprisoning his father.
Despite being known for his aggressive nature as a governor, Christie draws the line at attempting to overthrow democracy. He firmly believes that waiting for Trump to collapse under his own weight and then claiming to have never said anything negative about him is both unrealistic and ineffective. Christie notes that Trump has never backed off until he was defeated. Christie had witnessed this firsthand in Atlantic City when Trump faced bankruptcy three times before ultimately closing down his businesses.
Christie mocked Ron DeSantis’ response to the events of January 6, humorously questioning if he was even alive at that time. Christie believes that DeSantis has already lost the authenticity contest by making inconsistent statements. If DeSantis claims that Ukraine is a territorial dispute on one occasion and then refers to Putin as a war criminal on another, it becomes clear that he lacks credibility.
Regarding Trump’s strained relationship with Fox News, Christie suspects that the network’s owner, Rupert Murdoch, has had enough. Christie has known Murdoch for a long time and believes that Murdoch’s perspective is likely “enough is enough.”
Is Trump truly scared, as alleged by his former chief of staff John Kelly? According to Christie, Trump is afraid. Christie explains that someone like Trump never wants to end up in jail because it means relinquishing all control, and Trump is a control freak. Christie asserts that Trump operates on a reactive basis, playing checkers instead of chess, scrambling to make his next move.
As the ultimate Jersey guy, it is interesting to hear Christie’s thoughts on various matters. His friendship with Bruce Springsteen, once shattered due to his allegiance to Trump, is a work in progress. I inquire about his opinion on Jack Smith’s focus on Trump waving around classified documents at the golf club in Bedminster, claiming that they were plans for a golf course. Christie finds Trump’s strategy fascinating, as being called a liar is preferable to going to jail for someone like Trump. If being labeled a liar secures Trump a way out of legal consequences, he will gladly accept that trade.
Christie acknowledges that Trump has regularly insulted him about his weight, using terms like “slob” and “Sloppy Chris Christie.” Trump even created a phony video showing Christie indulging in a fried food buffet. While Christie admits that these comments may bother him at times, he states that Trump is no Adonis himself. Christie questions the significance of criticism from someone with Trump’s physical appearance, humorously adding that Trump once advised him to tie his ties long to appear slimmer, a suggestion he did not take seriously.
Interestingly, it was Trump who initially recommended lap-band surgery to Christie back in 2005, which he eventually underwent. I ask Christie about Trump’s contrasting behavior, expressing concern for his health in the past while now ruthlessly insulting his weight. Christie believes that this duality is part of Trump’s charm. Trump possesses the ability to be charming, but only when he wants something from you.
Moving on to the age debate involving President Biden, Christie believes that both Biden and Trump are past their prime. As a 60-year-old himself, Christie states that Biden should be allowed to retire and questions whether his family’s motivation is genuine love or driven by personal gain.
Regarding Hunter Biden’s appearance at the state dinner for the Indian prime minister shortly after his plea deal, Christie believes it indicates that Joe Biden is not in control. Christie questions why Biden, if he were in the right frame of mind, would allow Hunter to attend. He argues that it is not a matter of banning one’s own child from the White House but rather exercising caution and maintaining distance with someone who could potentially bring negative attention.
Christie also expresses his belief that Kamala Harris poses a problem for Biden, as her presence may harm his candidacy. Christie draws a comparison with Dan Quayle, asserting that Quayle did not negatively impact George Bush 41’s campaign. Christie emphasizes that the age factor is crucial, as Biden is 82 years old.
As we approach the Fourth of July, I inquire whether Christie has any reflections on the incident in 2017 when he was photographed sunning himself on a closed public beach during a state government shutdown. Christie accepts responsibility for his mistake, admitting that he made a blunder. However, he confirms that he does not have any acid flashbacks regarding that incident.
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