President Trump has tapped New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) to head up the White House's new commission to battle drug addiction. The commission, aimed at raising awareness and crafting new policies, is expected to be announced Wednesday, when Trump and Christie lead a listening session at the White House with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, other Cabinet members, and drug policy experts.
Though Christie was a devoted Trump surrogate and once even a contender for vice president, Christie insisted he has "no interest in having a permanent role" in the administration and is happy with the volunteer role he's been offered. "[Trump] asked me to help with this and I'm going to," Christie said. "It's an issue that I care about a lot in New Jersey and for the country, and so the president asked me to do this and I was happy to."
During his tenure as New Jersey governor and during his run in the Republican presidential primary, Christie has put fighting the nation's opioid epidemic and rising prescription drug abuse at the forefront. Christie's commission is part of the new White House Office of American Innovation, chaired by Trump senior adviser Jared Kushner, who reportedly had a hand in ousting Christie as Trump's transition chair.
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