Chris Christie announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday in New Hampshire. During his remarks, the former governor of New Jersey took several swipes at Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the daughter and son-in-law of Donald Trump.

This will be Christie’s second presidential race, following his run in 2016 in which he was the first candidate to drop out and endorse Trump.

Six months after leaving the White House, Kushner’s company received a $2 billion investment from a fund controlled by the Saudi crown prince. Christie did not hide his disapproval of this business deal in his speech on Tuesday.

“Jared Kushner and Ivanka Kushner walk out of the White House, and months later get $2 billion from the Saudis… That’s your money he stole and gave it to his family. You know what that makes us? A banana republic. That’s what it makes us,” said Christie on Tuesday.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

During his time as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Christie played a part in the prosecution of Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, in 2005.

Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations. Christie is an avid opponent of the elder Kushner and refers to his acts as “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he ever prosecuted.

In 2020, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner during the final days of his presidency. Christie disagreed with this decision.

“Mr. Kushner pled guilty. He admitted to the crimes,” said Christie in 2020, going on to recount Kushner’s confession.

Christie also slammed Trump in his remarks on Tuesday, calling him a “lonely, self-consumed mirror hog.” A former advisor to the Trump administration during the 2020 election, Christie no longer supports the family and intends on beating Trump as the lead Republican candidate for the 2024 election.

“The grift from this family is breathtaking. It’s breathtaking,” says Christie on the Trump family.

Read more about:

Get the free uPolitics mobile app for the latest political news and videos

iPhone Android

Leave a comment

avatar

Article by Ava Lombardi