New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced for the final time Tuesday that he would not be seeking the Republican nomination for president despite what he said were widespread calls for him to do so over the last several weeks.

During a nearly hour-long news conference, Christie said that after seriously considering calls for him to step up and after weighing all the options, he felt a commitment to New Jersey to finish what he started. CBS news reported that he jokingly said, “New Jersey, whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me.”

Watch a short clip from the news conference, during which Christie talks about his continuing commitment to New Jersey and about how “now is not my time.”

During the news conference, Christie also took the time to address an issue that he said arose as soon as people thought he might be a legitimate candidate for the presidency: his weight. A number of late-night talk show hosts, including David Letterman, spouted off fat jokes at Christie’s expense. Christie said he didn’t take the jokes to heart, but instead found them funny. “I’m self-aware,” he said.

But he also said that those people who took his weight to be a serious problem as a potential presidential candidate “are among the most ignorant people I have ever heard in my life.”

Watch Christie address the issue of his weight below:

Watch David Letterman’s jokes about “the tubby man across the river” below:

 Your support is crucial…

With an uncertain future and a new administration casting doubt on press freedoms, the danger is clear: The truth is at risk.

Now is the time to give. Your tax-deductible support allows us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes what’s really happening — without compromise.

Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and unearth untold stories.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#chris christie#new jersey#president