Chris Christie says he 'would not' rule out challenging Trump in 2024

Former Gov. Chris Christie could challenge Donald Trump in 2024, setting up a possible contest reminiscent of the 2016 presidential race should both men decide to run again. 

In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday, Christie kept open the possibility of seeking the Republican Party nomination once again.

Though it may seem too in-the-Beltway to start pondering a presidential election four years away, Trump has also been said to be considering running again after being defeated in his reelection bid by Democratic challenger Joe Biden in November. 

"If President Trump decides to run in 2024, are you ruling out running against him?" Hewitt asked. 

"I would not. No," Christie said. "I would not rule it out, Hugh." 

Speculation about Christie's future in Washington, D.C., has followed him relentlessly for a decade.

As governor, he declined to enter the 2012 race despite being heavily courted by the party's leaders and donors.

When he ran in 2016, the landscape had shifted so much from four years earlier that his trademark blunt approach had been co-opted by Trump, whose victory in New Hampshire's primary prompted Christie's early exit. 

Should Trump announce he's running again, he could maintain his grip on the party and narrow the possibility for challengers such as Christie. 

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But as a former prosecutor and two-term governor known for pugnaciousness and command of policy details, Christie could also be the rare candidate who could mount an effective challenge to Trump.

Of course, the path toward that possibility is littered with contingencies, and Christie may see no way to winning in 2024. 

Christie has been open about his considerations for seeking the presidency again. He told Hewitt last year that, at 56 then, he had years of political opportunity ahead of him. 

"I’m not someone who wants to do it just to go through the exercise," Christie said at the time. "But if I saw a pathway to victory and a way to make a difference, I certainly would consider it." 

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Despite his 20-year friendship with Trump, Christie has been one of the most vocal Republicans to denounce the president for his refusal to accept the election results.

In the Monday interview, he told Hewitt that he is still close with Trump despite their disagreement. 

"The president is very, very focused now just on his continued concerns about how the election went. Those are things that he and I do not agree on," Christie said, adding that he does not "agitate" him much about it.

"But listen, I’ve been his friend for 20 years. I’ll continue to be his friend. But on this one, we have a fundamental disagreement," he said. 

Christie has also been outspoken since contracting COVID-19 at a White House event this year about the importance of wearing a mask, which Trump has not done.

Last week he released an ad stressing the importance of masks. 

Dustin Racioppi is a reporter in the New Jersey Statehouse. For unlimited access to his work covering New Jersey’s governor and political power structure, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: racioppi@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @dracioppi