Christie pushed some mighty big claims.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie claimed that some Republican leaders privately express doubts about President Donald Trump while publicly offering him enthusiastic praise, highlighting what he described as a disconnect between private conversations and public messaging inside the GOP.
Christie made the remarks during a recent appearance on the “Overtime” segment of Real Time with Bill Maher, where he was asked what Republicans say among themselves when cameras are off. According to Christie, many party figures speak very differently behind closed doors than they do on television.
Christie alleged that fellow Republicans often approach him privately to commend his willingness to criticize Trump openly. He claimed these same individuals later appear on news programs praising Trump in glowing terms, despite privately expressing reservations.
“They’ll tell me they agree with everything I’m saying,” Christie said, describing conversations he claims take place off-air. He added that those same Republicans later justify their public praise of Trump by saying they feel political pressure to do so.
When pressed by host Bill Maher to identify specific individuals, Christie named Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina as one example. The comment reportedly drew audible reactions from both the panel and audience.
The remarks come amid a long-running and increasingly strained relationship between Christie and Trump. Although Christie endorsed Trump after ending his own presidential campaign in 2016, their alliance deteriorated in the years that followed. Christie has since emerged as one of Trump’s most outspoken critics within Republican circles.
As part of his 2024 presidential campaign, Christie released an advertisement emphasizing his willingness to challenge Trump directly. In the ad, Christie positions himself as the only Republican candidate openly criticizing Trump while others remain silent.
Christie’s campaign described the commercial as part of a significant advertising push in New Hampshire, one of the earliest and most influential states in the Republican primary calendar. The ad accuses Trump of deepening divisions in the country and references past statements Christie characterized as inflammatory.
Despite criticism from Christie and others, President Trump continues to lead Republican primary polling by wide margins and maintains strong support among grassroots voters. The exchange highlights ongoing divisions within the GOP as the party weighs loyalty, leadership, and strategy heading into the election season.