In 2011, Chris Christie nominated Sohail Mohammed, a Muslim American, to the New Jersey Superior Court. The following year, the governor called out Islamophobic "bigots" within the Republican Party. Even as recently as last December, Christie addressed a notion held by some Americans that all Muslims are terrorists.
"This is just common sense, everybody. You can’t paint everyone with the same brush. You just can’t," he said during a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. "We’re all individuals," he stated.
That Chris Christie is apparently no more. Last Friday, the governor expressed his support for a candidate running, in part, on a promise to ban all Muslims from entering the US.
Christie appears to have sold his soul for political gain, and Trump, eager to highlight that he has the endorsement of centrist Republicans, has been parading his new pal before the press.
Following Trump’s string of primary victories on Super Tuesday, Christie was the one saddled with the unfortunate task of introducing the billionaire during his news conference, and he didn’t seem too happy about it.
Delivering his praise with all the enthusiasm of someone held at gunpoint, many were quick to point out that Christie’s situation closely resembles that of a hostage.
— Nick Alden (@AldenNick) March 2, 2016
Others noted the look of sheer existential panic on Christie’s face as Trump dove into a victory speech.
— Carissa Klarich (@theactivelife) March 2, 2016
— Murph's Law (@MurphofSteel) March 2, 2016
Whatever his feelings of regret, Christie is, at this point, all in. With a falling approval rating in his own state, six major New Jersey newspapers co-published an editorial on Wednesday calling for the governor’s resignation.
"Last year, he spent 261 full or partial days out of New Jersey. Now that he is no longer running for president, what percentage of his time does he expect to spend in New Jersey on New Jersey business this year? How could he endorse someone for president who disagrees with him on virtually every important issue," the piece reads.
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 2, 2016
— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) March 2, 2016
"It has been obvious for at least two years that Christie has put personal ambition ahead of the interests of New Jersey citizens."
If Trump fails to win the November general election, and Christie’s political gamble doesn’t pay off, his career will be at an end.
— Cleve Bryan CBS3 (@CleveBryan) March 2, 2016
