Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took a jab at his GOP primary rival, former Republican President Donald Trump, by quoting Taylor Swift's lyrics.
Spoiler alert: he failed miserably.
Christie–who is trailing way behind at 2% according to The Economist/YouGov poll–once served as head of Trump's 2016 transition planning team but eventually became a vocal critic of the former President.
On Wednesday, Christie responded to a photo of himself seated next to Dallas Cowboys owner and Republican donor Jerry Jones that was shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The photo was jokingly captioned with:
"Ooooh who on the Cowboys is Chris Christie dating?!"
The initial tweet was a nod to rumors that Swift might be dating Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce after she was spotted at a game with Kelce's mother.
Christie retweeted the photo and invoked the lyrics to Taylor Swift's songs, "You Belong With Me" and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” as an attempt to skewer Trump–who remains the GOP frontrunner at 51% despite his four criminal indictments.
The former Trump ally also made a reference to the second GOP debate held Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, California, where Trump was again notably absent after skipping the first debate in Wisconsin last month.
Christie wrote:
"I was just a guy in the bleachers on Sunday... but after tonight, Trump will know we are never ever getting back together."
I was just a guy in the bleachers on Sunday... but after tonight, Trump will know we are never ever getting back together.— Chris Christie (@Chris Christie) 1695829174
And the internet cringed.
@GovChristie *cringe candidate intensifies*— New York State Young Republicans (@New York State Young Republicans) 1695829429
@GovChristie That's so cringe, try again.— Hempstead Tires (@Hempstead Tires) 1695833183
@EdmundSmirk @GovChristie His tweet is terrible, honestly.— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Politics Guy (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Politics Guy) 1695834024
@GovChristie This is the cringiest of cringe lol— DJ Brendan O'Neill (@DJ Brendan O'Neill) 1695881607
@GovChristie Imagine typing this tweet out and thinking yep that\u2019s a banger right there. \ud83e\udd23— Libertarian Mama \ud83d\udd14 (@Libertarian Mama \ud83d\udd14) 1695833472
@GovChristie After tonight you'll be back in the bleachers.— Rickie Miyake (@Rickie Miyake) 1695857330
@GovChristie How is a person so disliked by his own party yet a legend in his own mind?— Question Everything (@Question Everything) 1695829946
@GovChristie Crazy ex-girlfriend vibes coming from Christie here. \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\udd25— Girl\ud83d\udc67 On \ud83d\udd25Fire (@Girl\ud83d\udc67 On \ud83d\udd25Fire) 1695867938
@GovChristie Conservatives broke up with you long time ago, RINO— Joe (@Joe) 1695856725
@GovChristie Oh god please stop— Elizabeth Stone (@Elizabeth Stone) 1695873217
Swifties campaigned to never ever be tied to ignorant politicians.
@GovChristie I don\u2019t think your politics align well with Taylor Swift so please don\u2019t try to win her fans over.— Brix (Taylor\u2019s Version) (@Brix (Taylor\u2019s Version)) 1695839552
At Wednesday's debate, Christie mocked Trump's absence by calling him "Donald Duck" because he kept "ducking these things" and that he was a no-show because he's "afraid."
An advisor to Christie's campaign confirmed with Politico that the former New Jersey Governor plans to stay in the race until the New Hampshire primary, which would most likely take place in January 2024.
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