A little over a year ago, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was helping prepare then-President Donald Trump for a debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
In the months since, Trump's unhinged lies about the validity of the 2020 election have transformed the political landscape by eroding conservative voters' trust in American democracy.
Even after these lies sparked a deadly failed insurrection against the United States Capitol, Trump continues to claim the election was "stolen" from him by Democrats engaged in widespread election fraud—a complete fantasy.
In recent comments to the Republican Jewish Coalition, Christie implored the party to stop promoting these election delusions.
Watch below.
Christie said:
"We need to face the realities of the 2020 election and learn, not hide, from them. We need to discredit the extremists in our midst the way we've done it before. ... We need to renounce conspiracy theorists and the truth deniers; the ones who know better and the ones who are just plain nuts. We need to give our supporters facts that will help them put all those fantasies to rest, so everyone could focus with clear minds on the issues that really matter."
In a separate interview with CNN, Christie warned that Trump needs to "begin talking about the future and tell the truth about the election and move on," though he emphasized he didn't know if Trump would take that advice.
If a new statement from Trump is any indication, Christie shouldn't hold his breath.
Trump said of his former allly:
"Chris Christie, who just made a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) in Las Vegas, was just absolutely massacred by his statements that Republicans have to move on from the past, meaning the 2020 Election Fraud. Everybody remembers that Chris left New Jersey with a less than 9% approval rating—a record low, and they didn't want to hear this from him!"
The schadenfreude was real.
People also found it funny that Trump chastised Christie over approval ratings.
Christie is among a handful of Republicans potentially running for the presidential nomination in 2024.
