Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Wednesday that he is ending his 2024 presidential campaign, just days before the first Republican primary contest in Iowa.
“It’s clear to me tonight that there isn’t a path for me to win the nomination,” Christie told voters at an event in New Hampshire. “Which is why I’m suspending my campaign for president of the United States.”
“I want to promise you this,” Christie continued. “I’m going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again. And that’s more important than my own personal ambition.”
Christie is not expected to make endorsement until after Monday’s voting results in Iowa, according to a source familiar with the campaign.
Christie’s departure may also boost Nikki Haley, who has seen a surge in the polls recently with a new poll showing former president Donald Trump’s lead in New Hampshire cut to just seven points.
Christie was caught on a hot mic before his event talking about Haley, saying, “She’s going to get smoked — you and I both know it. She’s not up to this.” Fwrd Axis News has reached out to the Christie campaign for comment.
This was Christie’s second campaign for president, having lost in 2016 to Trump, who went on to win the White House later that year.
Christie led Trump’s transition team and advised him while in office before eventually becoming one of Trump’s most vocal critics.
The Republican field now has four candidates remaining with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson still in the race.
