According to the Daily Beast, Chris Christie was caught on a hot mic talking about Nikki Haley’s chances against Donald Trump.
The former New Jersey governor said Nikki Haley is “gonna get smoked.”
Christie made the comments right before he got on stage to announce the suspension of his presidential campaign.
"While waiting for Chris Christie announcement, he can be heard on a hot mic criticizing Nikki Haley while talking to someone," Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin said.
“She’s gonna get smoked,” Christie said.
“You and I both know it, she’s not up to this," he continued.
"He also claims DeSantis called him, then feed is cut," Melugin commented.
LISTEN:
BREAKING: While waiting for Chris Christie announcement, he can be heard on a hot mic criticizing @NikkiHaley while talking to someone.
“She’s gonna get smoked,” he says. “You and I both know it, she’s not up to this.”
He also claims DeSantis called him, then feed is cut. pic.twitter.com/3Lrz2t6BQ8
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 10, 2024
Daily Beast reports:
First, Christie began by defending his campaign’s effort despite a disappointing performance that culminated in his decision to drop out on Wednesday.
“People don't wanna hear it, Wayne,” Christie told Wayne MacDonald, a longtime supporter and former New Hampshire Republican Party chairman. “We know we're right, but they don't wanna hear it. We couldn't have been any clearer, we couldn't have worked any harder... And look, she's spent $68 million so far, just on TV... and we've spent 12. I mean, who's punching above their weight?"
Christie did not say Haley’s name, but it was obvious he was talking about her. The former New Jersey governor then added insult to injury for Haley, who many anti-Trump Republicans believe could upset Trump in New Hampshire with a Christie endorsement.
“She's gonna get smoked,” Christie said of Haley. “You and I both know it, she’s not up to this.”
As MacDonald was about to hear—along with several hundred others on the livestream feed—Christie was indeed resigned to his fate. Then the candidate brought up another rival, Ron DeSantis.
Christie said DeSantis called him, “petrified that I would…” before the sound abruptly cut out.
The campaign removed the video from YouTube a few minutes later. The Christie campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
DeSantis posted on X that he agreed Nikki Haley would get smoked.
I agree with Christie that Nikki Haley is “going to get smoked.”
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 10, 2024
From POLITICO:
Christie has made no secret of his modest-to-low opinion of Haley’s campaign. For weeks, he had declined calls by her boosters to leave the race, arguing that she — and others — had not shown any backbone in standing up to former President Donald Trump. The two have not spoken in recent weeks, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.
A person familiar with his thinking said Christie changed his mind only in the past 24 hours. “Part of the reasoning,” the person added, “was he had no interest in allowing Haley or others to use him as a scapegoat.”
As for potentially backing Haley, the person added, “it’s clear he won’t be endorsing.”
“Chris Christie has been a friend for many years,” Haley said in a statement in response to Christie dropping out. “I commend him on a hard-fought campaign.”
On the hot mic, Christie was also caught musing about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who he said had called him, “petrified.” It’s unclear what DeSantis was petrified of.
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