Before Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump, the two had a very long, close friendship. (Getty)
Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump for president and stood behind him during Trump’s press conference on Super Tuesday. But according to many people who watched, he looked like he was in pain the whole time. How did Christie end up where he is? Is he going to be Trump’s running mate? Although many people were shocked by Christie’s endorsement, the two have been very close friends for a long time. Christie sometimes made some very negative statements about Trump during the campaign, but he never attacked him as much as many of his supporters wanted. This may be because the two have a long relationship. This is a look at some of the key moments between the two men.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Christie Once Said That People Who Endorsed Trump Weren’t Thinking Deeply on the Issues
Trump gets endorsement from Christie … Here are Christie’s comment on Trump earlier this year
Christie wasn’t always a Trump supporter during the campaign. In fact, in the video above, Christie imitated Trump and then said about people who endorsed the man: “I don’t think people have thought about it in great depth yet.” This next photo, referencing a comment Christie made about Trump on a different occasion, is also circulating on Twitter:
Comments like these have led some people to be shocked by Christie’s sudden reversal. But a close look at the campaign shows that Christie really didn’t go after Trump that frequently, especially when compared to the other candidates.
2. Some Experts Think Christie Wants To Be Attorney General
Chris Christie and Donald Trump looking close after a debate. (Getty)
Some people believe that Christie tried to keep things more harmonious with Trump and, ultimately, decided to endorse the man because Christie wants to be Attorney General if Trump wins the presidency. Yahoo! reported that many of Christie’s supporters questioned why he didn’t choose to spar more with Trump. Christie said he would do so at the time and place of his choosing, but he never really did. Yahoo! reported that Christie seemed defensive about the whole thing when asked about it:
For a good part of my career, I got criticized for taking too many people on. Now those same people are saying I didn’t take on Donald Trump enough.”
One of the many tweets circulating with anger about Christie’s decision to endorse Trump reads:
Well played, @ChrisChristie
3. Trump Called Christie a ‘Good Friend’ Who Was One Email Away From Disaster in 2014
Donald Trump and Chris Christie after a debate. (Getty)
In 2014, when the scandal with the George Washington Bridge land closures were gathering steam, Trump defended his friend but also expressed concern for him. According to NJ.com, Trump said of Christie:
He’s a good friend of mine. He’s a good guy, but you know, he’s one email away from a disaster.”
Trump went on to say that Christie was in a very scary situation and he was interested to see how the Governor would handle everything. More recently, back in November, Trump advocated on Twitter for Christie and Mike Huckabee to be included in the Fox debate. Christie thanked Trump for his support:
Thanks @realDonaldTrump. Try to have some fun without me!
According to Yahoo!, the two have been close friends for 13 years and Christie attended Trump’s third wedding.
4. Christie Once Said: ‘Anything Donald Wants to Save, I’m For’
Republican presidential candidates New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (L) and Donald Trump share a laugh during a commercial break in the Republican presidential debate. (Getty)
Christie has similarly been quite lavish of his praise of Trump in the past, before the two became opponents in the presidential election circle. In 2014, Trump tweeted that he might “buy back” Atlantic City to save the Plaza and Taj:
I left Atlantic City years ago, good timing. Now I may buy back in, at much lower price, to save Plaza & Taj. They were run badly by funds!
Christie responded favorably, NJ.com reported.
Listen, anything Donald wants to save, I’m for. If Donald wants to come back and save something, good.”
He added that he didn’t think Atlantic City needed saving, but he would welcome Trump back.
5. In 2011, Christie Couldn’t Believe His Good Friend Trump Might Run for President
Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump (R) and Chris Christie (L) shake hands during a break in the Republican Presidential Candidates Debate. (Getty)
In 2011, Diane Sawyer interviewed Christie and the subject of Trump running for president came up. You can read the entire transcript here. He was evasive about his answer, never quite saying that he thought Trump would be a good president. First she asked if it would be great with him if Donald was president. Christie responded:
“Oh, Donald’s a really good friend of mine. I don’t know that Donald really wants to be president.”
She pushed, asking if Trump wanted to be the Republican nominee. Christie said that he and Trump had spoken about it, and he would “believe it when I see it.” He added that Trump and his wife, Melania, are very good friends with Christie and his wife, but he thought Trump was happy with his current career. Christie added:
I think he’s very outspoken and he wants, he loves to be on the stage and to express his opinions. Maybe that’ll ultimately manifest itself in a political career. I don’t know.”
Unfortunately, his friendship with Trump doesn’t mean he’s always happy about it. Here’s just one of many reactions people on Twitter shared about Christie’s expressions during Trump’s Super Tuesday press conference:
