Chris Christie, on a Hot Mic, Says There’s No Way in Hell Nikki Haley Beats Donald Trump

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday, a move that will likely improve Nikki Haley’s chances in the New Hampshire primary. But according to Christie, it won’t matter, because Haley has no shot of beating Donald Trump.

Caught on a hot mic during his campaign’s livestream shortly before he announced his decision to bow out, Christie was heard telling someone, “She’s going to get smoked, and you and I both know it,” seemingly referring to the former governor of South Carolina. “She’s not up to this.” He added, “She spent $68 million, just on TV, spent $68 million so far…$59 million by DeSantis, and we spent 12. I mean, who’s punching above their weight and who’s getting a return on their investment?” Christie also claimed, “DeSantis called me, petrified.” The livestream was taken down shortly after that.

In announcing his decision to drop out of the race, Christie told a crowd in New Hampshire, “I promise you this: I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be President of the United States again. That’s more important than my own personal ambition.” He chose not to endorse another candidate but took shots at his competitors for failing to go after Trump as a threat to the nation. “No one will tell the truth about Donald Trump,” he said. “No one will tell the truth about his divisiveness, his stoking of anger for his own benefit.”

Just over a week ago, Christie released a video declaring he would not leave the race, saying, “Donald Trump is ahead in the polls, and so everyone says anyone who’s behind him should drop out, and we should make our choice Donald Trump versus Joe Biden. Well, Joe Biden has had the wrong policies, and Donald Trump will sell the soul of this country. Neither choice is acceptable to me, and it shouldn’t be acceptable to you.”