Trump: Christie 'one email away from a disaster'
(CNN) - Donald Trump says he's worried about his friend, Chris Christie.
"He's a friend of mine. He's a good friend of mine. He's a good guy, but you know, he's one email away from a disaster," said Trump, at an event Tuesday morning at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
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"It's a very scary situation for Chris, and we'll see how he handles it," added Trump, the real estate mogul and reality TV star.
Trump's comments came just a few hours before the Republican Governor of New Jersey's second inauguration, a celebratory event that's now being overshadowed by clouds of controversy, as Christie's administration faces scandals over alleged strong-arming of political opponents.
Christie is also seriously considering a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, and national polls of Republicans conducted after the Governor's landslide re-election two months ago suggested that he was becoming the front-runner among the possible contenders for the GOP nomination. But Trump says the controversies may hurt such a bid.
"At a minimum it's going to be tougher for him (Christie) because of what's happened," Trump added.
Trump spoke at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics' famous "Politics and Eggs" series, which often attracts top politicians and possible presidential contenders.
Asked to handicap the possible 2016 field, Trump said he thinks the eventual GOP nominee is "going to be somebody that nobody is even thinking about," and said that even though Hillary Clinton, if she runs, will instantly become the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination, "you just don't know what's going to happen."
The 67-year old Trump, who flirted with runs for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2000 and 2012 cycles, last year spoke to a number of Republican and conservative crowds, including addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference, which is the largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists, and is considered a must attend cattle call for Republican presidential hopefuls.
But Tuesday, Trump did not address his own possible presidential ambitions regarding 2016.
He did praise the crowd in the Granite State, which traditionally holds the first primary in the road to the White House, saying "you're special people. This is a special state. You're very important for a lot of reasons."
And a couple of times he highlighted his conservative chops, criticizing Obamacare and President Barack Obama's handling of the economy, and emphasizing that "I'm a very conservative person."
But he offered some advice to tea party activists and other grassroots conservatives, who have been blamed for nominating flawed candidates that were a contributing factor in the GOP loss of five Senate elections in the 2010 and 2012 cycles.
"I love the tea party and I love many of the things that the tea party represents," said Trump, before adding that "they have to be careful, however, cause we (Republicans) could have had two or three or four more senators right now if the tea party had been a little bit more lenient, a little bit more understanding."
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The US Right is now so far to the extreme that Trump is the voice of moderation.
OMG! Did DaDonald just diss the Tea Party? He was unusually subtle about it. I wonder if any of them caught that he just insulted them for being extremists? Nahhh! All they heard was, "Donald loves us!" He's just like a mommy Cichlid. They also eat their young. Trump just loves to take people down, whether they deserve it, or not. It helps keep his ego fully inflated. He has already spotted the easy prey. Christie is going to go down like a Whopper! (It will taste good, but leave the TP'ers feeling a bit queasy).
Donald of Orange knows a thing or two about disasters.
when are the american people going to come up with a new system of government that does not include politicians!!
i can't take any of this coifed oompa-loompa's comments seriously.
Neither the Bush's nor the Clinton's want Chris Christie to be the Republican nominee in 2016, and, predictably, he is being destroyed. Jeb will be the Republican nominee. And a Clinton will be the Dem. nominee. Welcome to the two party dictatorship. OBEY AND BE HAPPY.
Donald of Orange specializes in disasters. Pay attention.
I put this man in the same category as the Kardashians-not worth listening to and painful to look at.
Trump is a second rate side-show barker. Any self-respecting snake oil salesman would have nothing to do with him.
Does it look like Donald is wearing eye and lip makeup??
I put this man in the same category as the Kardashian clan. Not worth listening to and painful to look at.
He is a very strange shade of orange. Resembling an OompaLoompa
After 6 Bankruptcies; you should have been in jail long time ago! You Mr. Trump are a disaster!
It ain't over til the fat man sings.
Oompa loompa anyone?
Trump should always consult his hair before speaking.
"It's a very scary situation for Chris, and we'll see how he handles it," added Trump
Translation: Chris is guilty, I hope he doesn't get caught.
why is so orange and white eyed and white lipped? isn't all the $ enough....need to be so vain to spray yourself orange?
Hey Donald, orange ya glad............... Eh, that's all I got.............
A lperson that squints and frowns like that picture, it makes them look so smart. Sort of like George W. Bush did.
Christie is toast.
Saw the episode on Trumps private jet the other day on Smithsonian Channel. The man is so self indulgent, he can't possibly understand what it takes to win.
Why is Donald Trump "news"?
I sort of thought Christie might be ok, that is until I heard he was a friend of Donald Trump. What more damning thing could there be?
I am happy his big liberal rear is trouble, because I want a conservative presidential candidate.