'Either you’re afraid or you’re not listening': Christie lays into DeSantis over fear 'to offend' Trump
During the fourth and final GOP debate ahead of the January 2024 Iowa caucuses, Republican presidential candidates former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis argued for several minutes Wednesday night over DeSantis' inability to answer whether ex-President Donald Trump is "unfit" for the presidency.
The Florida leader said he believes Trump's age is an issue, but Christie repeatedly expresses his belief that the MAGA hopeful is "unfit" to serve for other reasons — such as his four indictments, his refusal to admit he lost the 2020 election, and his incitement of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
"Why doesn't he just answer the question?" Christie said. "The question is very direct. Is he fit to be president or isn't he? The rest of the speech is interesting, but completely non-responsive. if we were in the courtroom, they would strike the answer and say Governor Desantis, you're a smart man—"
DeSantis interrupted, "No, they wouldn't. No, they wouldn't, They wouldn't, chris."
Christie went on to say, "They would strike the answer."
After the two bickered for over ten seconds, host and moderator Megyn Kelly said, "Governor Christie, stop. I'm gonna come to you."
DeSantis then said, "Look, father time is undefeated. I don't know how he would score on the test, but I know this. We have an opportunity to nominate someone and elect someone for two terms, who is going to be spitting nails on day one and for eight years, deliver you big results. We should not nominate somebody who is almost 80 years old."
Kelly asked, "So you do think he's fit?"
Christie interrupted, "He won't answer. He's afraid to answer. "
DeSantis said, "No, i'm not."
Christie said, "Either you're afraid or you're not listening. It's a simple question. Ok, look. I'm a simple guy. I hear the question and I answer it. Is he fit or isn't he? I'll concede, you're fit, Ron. You're a new generation. You're 44 years old. I wish I was still 44 years old, okay."
DeSantis said, "45."
Christie replied, "Well, congratulations. I'd still take 45. Is he fit or isn't he? And this is the problem with my three colleagues. They're afraid to offend. And if you're afraid to offend Donald Trump, then what are you going to do when you sit across from [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping], and you sit across from the Ayatollah, and you sit across from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin? You have to be willing to offend with the truth."
