Chris Christie slams Trump, disparages other GOP rivals as he exits presidential race

The GOP presidential field's harshest (and only) Trump critic bows out swinging

Chris Christie bows out
Chris Christie bows out swinging
(Image credit: Sophie Park / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspended his long-shot bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination Wednesday evening, saying he wanted to "make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again," a goal "more important" than his "own personal ambition." Trump's leading critic in the GOP field, Christie had staked his campaign on doing well in New Hampshire's Jan. 23 primary.

Christie's exit was expected to boost former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, whose poll numbers are rising especially in New Hampshire, but he declined to immediately endorse any Republican rival. In fact, he seemed to rule out any such endorsement, telling his New Hampshire supporters that anyone unwilling to say Trump "is unfit to be president of the United States is unfit themselves to be president of the United States."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.