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Chris Christie Just Endorsed Trump And He’s Getting Owned On Twitter

by John Haltiwanger
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie just endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and people are laying into him on Twitter.

Christie just endorsed Trump. pic.twitter.com/tVTzMdFXTd — Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) February 26, 2016
I literally said "WTF" out loud at this Christie news. The words, not the acronym. Anyone else? — daveweigel (@daveweigel) February 26, 2016
Few things are as cynical, transparent, and unprincipled as Chris Christie's endorsement of Donald Trump. — Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) February 26, 2016
Info on emigrating to Iceland, for those ruminating on the prospect of a Trump/Christie presidency. https://t.co/Q4Ij8Ytggj — Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) February 26, 2016
2017, Trump is president. Christie is the new host of The Apprentice. — andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) February 26, 2016

Christie's embrace of the controversial real estate mogul comes not long after he dropped out of the presidential race and contradicts many of his previous statements on Trump.

Chris Christie's endorsement summed up in one photo. pic.twitter.com/IGBHCAwwY3 — Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) February 26, 2016

Endorsing Trump also means accepting the arguably intolerant and regressive nature of his perspectives and policy proposals.

Ok then. So turns out Chris Christie is an irrational racist, misogynist, Islamophobe. #YouAreWhoYouEndorse — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 26, 2016
Chris Christie, who has spoken out passionately against anti-Muslim bigotry, endorses Donald Trump. — Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) February 26, 2016
Other things Chris Christie just endorsed: - Islamophobia - sexism - racism - classlessness - meanness - duplicity - arrogance - tiny hands — Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) February 26, 2016
Note: Chris Christie is very much on the record *against* building a wall on the US-Mexico border — Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 26, 2016

Many view this development as a clear sign Christie will say just about anything to stay relevant and hurt his enemies.

Ironic for Christie that his most relevant day in the 2016 race comes long after he's dropped out of it — Josh Lederman (@joshledermanAP) February 26, 2016
No one paid attention to Chris Christie while he was in the race, and now his endorsement of Trump is leading the news cycle? Go figure. — Suzy Welch (@SuzyWelch) February 26, 2016

Christie's endorsement of Trump is a blatant attack of his rival Marco Rubio, who Christie described as "desperate."

"Desperate people do desperate things." - Chris Christie, ENDORSING DONALD TRUMP, but talking about Marco Rubio — Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) February 26, 2016

Christie's campaign failed, in part, because of the challenges Rubio posed to it, and he clearly still resents him.

I was wondering how Chris Christie would continue bashing Marco Rubio. — David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 26, 2016

Beyond trying to discredit Rubio, some think this signifies Christie's long-term political ambitions and desire to be vice president or attorney general, among other positions.

Chris Christie, motivating himself to endorse Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/HV9CXiw0kM — Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 26, 2016
This just in: Chris Christie wants to be VP. — Elizabeth Plank (@feministabulous) February 26, 2016
Chris Christie either wants to be Vice-President, or a contestant on next year's "Celebrity Apprentice." — Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) February 26, 2016
So Attorney General Chris Christie then? — Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) February 26, 2016

Whatever his intentions truly are, Christie just lost the respect of a lot of people.

Hearing way more "I used to respect Christie" than "Atta boy!" today. — S.E. Cupp (@secupp) February 26, 2016
I will admit, I was wrong to have as much respect for Chris Christie as I did. — Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 27, 2016
Every remaining shred of respect I had for Chris Christie has just now instantly evaporated — Joel Pavelski (@joelcifer) February 26, 2016
Chris Christie now officially goes down in history as the most disappointing thing to happen to establishment Republicans in a generation. — Benny (@bennyjohnson) February 26, 2016

And those who already didn't like Christie now have yet another reason to view him with disdain.

Ah Christie, turns out we knew ye. — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 26, 2016
We were right about Christie all along — Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 26, 2016
CHRIS CHRISTIE PROVES DECISIVELY HE IS EVERYTHING HIS HATERS SAID HE WAS — Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) February 26, 2016

But at least one person is definitely happy about all of this.

Thank you for your support & friendship- Governor @ChrisChristie!#MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/jVI6Q6JH18 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2016

When it comes down to it, this is actually a pretty big deal, and definitely gives Trump's campaign even more momentum.

The unbridled rage focused on Christie right now suggests his endorsement really matters. — Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) February 26, 2016
Christie's endorsement is a major moment for Trump. A sitting governor, a ready attack dog, a link to party elites — Robert Costa (@costareports) February 26, 2016
Hats off to Team Trump -- for pulling off this Christie surprise. — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 26, 2016