Chris Christie Exposes Private GOP Criticism of Trump, Names Lindsey Graham
In a revealing television appearance, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican who has transformed from a close Trump associate to a vocal critic, made startling claims about the private sentiments of many high-profile Republicans toward former President Donald Trump. Christie asserted that numerous party members heap effusive praise on Trump in public settings while simultaneously slamming him behind closed doors.
The Green Room Confessions
During his interview on Bill Maher's "Real Time," Christie described a common scenario he encounters. "So many of my fellow party members, especially, come up to me because I say all this stuff out loud, and they in the green room at ABC, they'll say, 'You're so brave. That's so great. I totally agree with you. He's nuts,'" Christie recounted. The former governor, who frequently criticized Trump during his own unsuccessful bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, highlighted this stark contrast between private honesty and public posturing.
Christie elaborated further, explaining the duplicitous behavior he witnesses. "And then they go out on camera to be interviewed and they go, 'The greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.' And then they come back in the green room, and they say to me, 'You know, I have to do that but like I don't really mean it.' That's what they say." This candid admission paints a picture of calculated political performance rather than genuine admiration.
Naming Names: Lindsey Graham
When pressed by host Bill Maher to identify specific individuals, Christie initially hesitated with a smile before directly naming Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The revelation prompted audible gasps from the studio audience and a visible look of surprise from Maher himself, with one audience member exclaiming "Woah" in response.
Christie suggested that Graham's private criticisms of Trump likely mirror the harsh language he used during the 2016 presidential campaign, when Graham famously denounced Trump as a "race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot" who "doesn't represent" the Republican Party. Despite this earlier condemnation, Graham underwent a remarkable transformation following Trump's unexpected victory, becoming one of the former president's most enthusiastic supporters.
The Golf Course Connection
The former governor offered a pointed explanation for Graham's dramatic shift in public stance, noting the senator's frequent golf outings with Trump. "But I guess if you get invited to play golf, then off you go," Christie remarked, implying that personal access and privilege might influence political allegiances more than principle or conviction. This comment underscores the complex dynamics of loyalty and opportunism within contemporary Republican politics.
Christie's observations come at a time when the Republican Party continues to grapple with Trump's enduring influence, despite his legal challenges and the brief rupture in his relationship with Graham following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The interview provides rare insight into the private conversations and calculated public performances that characterize much of today's political landscape, revealing tensions between private belief and public persona among Trump's Republican colleagues.
