GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie watched former president Donald Trump‘s Fox News interview with Bret Baier very closely — and Christie took a lot from both participants.
Appearing on CBS Mornings, the former New Jersey Governor kept his pledge to be a thorn in Trump’s side as he challenges the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination, quoting Trump in the interview’s aftermath and asking rhetorically: “Does anybody really believe this stuff?”
To further belittle the former President, Christie has adopted one of Trump’s favorite techniques — the use of infantilizing nicknames. Trump, who goes by Donald, not even Don, is referred to in Christie’s caption as “Donny.”
Our ancestors fought the British, the Germans, they fought for freedom, for Civil Rights. They fought to save the world.
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) June 20, 2023
Donny… he’s fighting to save his golf shirts. The battle of Peter Millar is here. pic.twitter.com/SdRJMXU4EG
But evidently Christie also took lessons — and ammunition — from Baier, who hammered Trump with a name-packed roundhouse punch of famous former supporters, adding Trump’s petulant post-breakup insults to each name on the list.
Here’s Baier with his verbal fist balled up, taking aim at Trump’s reversals and name-calling.
Hilarious and epic takedown of Trump by Bret Baier! This is beautiful. https://t.co/HfwliZTcsr
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 19, 2023
The next day, Christie followed suit almost verbatim, tweeting out Trump’s reversals on powerful people the former President once selected for choice jobs, but later cast aside and pummeled with attempts to humiliate.
Christie, being one of the former Trump supporters frequently lashed by Trump’s insults, evidently sees political value in this line of Trump criticism. (It was a hit for Baier.)
Following on, Christie tweeted quotes of Trump’s bitterly acrimonious descriptions of Elaine Chao, Rex Tillerson, Mick Mulvaney, John Bolton, and Mark Esper:
Trump on SOT Elaine Chao:
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) June 19, 2023
Before:
“Secretary Chao’s extensive record of strong leadership and her expertise are invaluable assets in our mission to rebuild our infrastructure…”
After:
“A sellout to China.”
Mitch McConnell’s “China loving wife, Coco Chow!"
Trump on COS Mick Mulvaney:
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) June 19, 2023
Before:
“Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.”
After:
“This guy was uncharismatic, a born loser.”
“Liddle’ Mick Mulvaney, perhaps the dumbest person, along with John Bolton, working at the White House.”
