Chris Christie says Trump 'bravado' on indictment is 'baloney'

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T

Candy Woodall USA TODAY

Chris Christie continues to make bashing former President Donald Trump one of his most frequent pastimes, now taking aim at his reaction to the indictment.

Trump's campaign team has boasted millions in fundraising since the Thursday afternoon indictment news, and his competitors and potential 2024 hopefuls have largely lined up to support him against what they say is a politicized prosecution.

But Christie, the former New Jersey governor who backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 and prepared him for debates, isn't buying any of this as a political win for the former president.

Trump's reaction to the indictment, which has mostly been delivered in all caps, is all "bravado" - and "baloney," Christie said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Christie on Trump arraignment: 'You can't make that a good day'

Christie, who spent 7 years as a prosecutor, also criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case against Trump as "weak" and not the best use of resources in New York.

Nonetheless, the case has brought the first indictment for a former U.S. president, and Christie isn't convinced by any positive or optimistic political spin from the Trump campaign.

"He's going to be charged officially on Tuesday," Christie said. "He's going to have to be mugshotted, fingerprinted and he's going to face a criminal trial in Manhattan. You can't make that a good day under any circumstances."

Christie's latest comments come after a town hall last week in New Hampshire, where he slammed Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis - all potential presidential candidates in 2024.

The former New Jersey governor said the country needs someone with guts to take down Trump.

And though he implied he had the intestinal fortitude to do it, Christie hasn't announced a run. He said he expects to make a decision in the next month or two.