Donald Trump reportedly had a 'tense' conversation with Chris Christie about his VP snub


Donald Trump confirmed via his Twitter account Friday that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will be his running mate — and it sounds like the decision was as crushing a blow to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was reportedly on the shortlist, as one would expect.
An opponent of Trump's during the primary season, Christie executed a classic "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" move when he endorsed Trump in February. The New Jersey governor has since been mocked for what some onlookers believe was an obvious ploy to become Trump's running mate. Since backing him, Christie has been rumored to be fetching Trump's McDonald's orders. It hasn't helped matters that Christie often looks strangled and hostage-like in the background of Trump's rallies.
Trump delayed the announcement of his running mate due to the attacks in Nice, but sources that spoke with NBC News said the presumptive Republican nominee was "irritated" that the media was repeatedly identifying Pence as his VP. "Those sources said that by mid-afternoon, after the initial news reports, [Trump] had still 'not informed' the other two men on his final list — former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — that a final decision had been reached," NBC wrote. "Trump spoke to Gov. Christie after 4 p.m. in what was described as a 'tense' conversation where a Pence pick was discussed but a final decision was not communicated."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Here's the real burn, though: Trump's announcement about Pence on Saturday is apparently scheduled to take place... in New Jersey. Jeva Lange
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The mounting tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
The Explainer Long-running border disputes are at a decade high, as protesters in Thailand demand the prime minister's resignation
-
The unravelling of 'trolls' paradise' Tattle Life
In the Spotlight Unmasking of founder sends shockwaves through toxic gossip forum
-
Sudoku medium: June 30, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders
-
Mamdani upsets Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary
Speed Read Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani beat out Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from