Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R-New Jersey) publicly criticized former President Trump’s selection of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as vice president, arguing that the choice was inconsistent with Trump’s new message of unity.
“Clearly this is not a message of unity around what could have been a national tragedy,” Christie said. I have written In an op-ed in Tuesday’s New York Times.
Following Saturday’s assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, Trump has touted a message of national “unity.” Christie wrote that Vance undermined Trump’s new messaging. Trump is expected to continue that message with a revised speech focused on the issue as he closes the Republican National Convention.
“Trump has an opportunity at this week’s Republican convention to curb some of the GOP’s most egregious rhetorical impulses,” he said. “Early indications are not encouraging.”
“Mr. Trump’s selection of Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate is an act of further loyalty to a segment of his party that is totally loyal to him, not an appeal to anyone outside the party,” Christie continued.
Christie wrote that he specifically took issue with Vance’s response to Saturday’s shooting. post On Saturday night, Vance told X that the assassination attempt was the result of anti-Trump rhetoric from the Biden campaign.
“The Biden campaign’s central argument is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance wrote. “This rhetoric led directly to the assassination attempt on President Trump.”
Since then, widespread criticism among Republicans, including prominent figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), has blamed Biden for the assassination attempt. The shooter’s motive remains unclear.
Christie argued that the strategy was born out of a “flawed strategy.”
“Many of the loudest voices in our nation’s debate are now motivated to portray their opponents as not only wrong, but out to destroy everything we hold dear,” he said.
Christie also argued that political violence has become a “political normalcy.” Christie has distanced himself from Trump since January 6, 2021, and in his op-ed, he cited the attack on the Capitol as one recent example of political violence.
“This is not enough as a momentary call for unity. This change must go beyond this week, next month and the November election to be truly transformative,” he concluded.
