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.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'] [twitter-follow screen_name='psteinhausercnn']
"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."
From CNN Politics
- Pressure builds on Biden to act on guns in wake of Colorado mass shooting March 23, 2021 01:03 pm
- Sidney Powell argues in new court filing that no reasonable people would believe her election fraud claims March 23, 2021 12:15 pm
- Postmaster General set to announce 10-year plan including longer mail delivery times and cuts to post office hours March 23, 2021 12:02 pm
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Analysis: Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
The Donald, was and remains, irrelevant. Ask him what else he is going to file bankruptcy on...
Why is Donald Trump saying anything? Chris Christie hardly needs him to post anything because I think Chris Christie can speak for himself and does so very well.
Another case of the press building someone up only to tear him down when there is a mistake. I am not defending the Governor but the media has gone too far. He is guilty before he even has his day in court.
I don't really understand why Rockefeller doesn't have to answer to this.
If there is someone that knows about disasters it is Americas biggest Oompa Loompa, Donald Trump.
Do people just perceive that they are being coerced? Or are they actually coerced? Can we see Christies campaign contributions from Rockefeller Group? and fronts? and shells? and their spouses/kids/buddies/charities or however that works.
Donald who?
Who cares what Trump thinks...He is the biggest zero in New York...
It looks like The Donald is wearing pink lipstick and pick eye shadow. I don't know but it looks like he is wearing a dead squirrel on his head. I guess that is not surprising from someone who professes to love the Tea Party. The only intelligent person left the Tea Party two days after he joined it. He said, forgive but I initially believed their right wing propaganda.
Even the guy with the bad politics and goofy hair knows Christie is done.
why does he look like an oompa loompa
Trump: One stiff breeze away from ridicule.
I think Trump is one haircut away from disaster. Seriously, is there anybody out there who is paying attention who doesn't realize that just one email could explode the Christie myth created by the media? I mean, Trump's remark is not exactly a brilliant insight. Trump and Palin, two of the most useless blowhards of the modern era.
The Democrats live in terror of the day when Trump changes his party allegiance to their side.
Moderation? For entering
Trump: One stiff breeze away from ridicule.
Let us find out the names of these "so called moderators".
Donald Trump, please run for President. I hope the Republicans pick you as their candidate for 2016.
Send Trump to the dump!!! How many 15 minutes does he require to annoy a nation???
Tweety Bird Donald. The same one who was making overtures about running for NYS governor only if the GOP backed him 100%. The same one who is now making noise about running for president in 2016. Run Donald Run...you will win neither.
Is he promoting his show? Geeesh. First Palin came out of the woods this weekend and now this clown.
I was starting to get worried, then I remembered it was Donald Trump talking.
well I think it's kind of cynical to say he's 'one email' away from disaster.
I think rather, he either did it – in which case the disaster is coming, or he didn't do it, in which case no disaster is coming.
If you made me guess, he did it. He knew about it, he was behind it, and he's going to be caught.
Let me start by saying that I am a Democrat.
I take no pleasure in what is happening to Chris Christie. If he did not do anything wrong then he has nothing to worry about...clearly his people did something wrong. He basically admitted that. If he didnt know about it...he will not be in trouble legally....politically he has issues because he is the boss.
I honestly doubt that I would ever vote for Chris Christie because I think his party has a lack of morals...the pope said it best. Their economic platform is immoral. However, if he can bring about positive change to the country that would be a great thing. The Republicans call him a liberal...no way...he is lean conservative at best. That party is completely controlled by southern white men now...and Sarah Palin...but they are not bragging about her either.
I wish Chris Christie luck and I truly hope he is innocent and the legal stuff is behind us. The politics is the politics. He is being treated MUCH better than the Republicans ever treated President Obama.
Even Trump assumes he is guilty. In republican tradition, guilt does not matter to him, only if they can prove it does it become a problem. This is the freedom the GOP found when they lost any and all moral direction they used to have.
Political advice from Donald Trump? Was Ronald McDonald not available?
If there is anybody that knows anything about disasters – it would be bad hairpiece Donals