In a recent turn of events in the 2024 GOP race, former President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize his opponent, Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey, by posting an unflattering picture of him.
Christie, who is currently ranked fifth nationally, has been focusing his campaign efforts in New Hampshire, where he holds the third spot. His outspoken criticism of Trump as a ‘danger to this country’ seems to have provoked a response from the former president. Trump, known for his blunt commentary, attacked Christie on Instagram and Truth Social, questioning his fitness for office both mentally and physically, and accompanied his remarks with a photo showing Christie in khaki shorts and a tucked-in white polo shirt.
Trump’s post also included the term “TDS,” referring to ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome,’ suggesting that Christie is suffering from an irrational opposition to him. Furthermore, Trump drew attention to two videos on social media featuring right-wing commentator Laura Loomer, who is known for her support of Trump. In these videos, Loomer is seen mocking Christie’s weight.
In one of the videos, Loomer confronts Christie, stating he will never become president and making derogatory comments about his weight. In response, Christie, who underwent gastric-banding surgery in 2013 to address his weight issues, remarked that opposing someone like Loomer is a highlight of his career.
During a recent debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Christie criticized fellow GOP candidates Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy for not directly confronting Trump. He likened their avoidance of Trump to the character Voldemort from the Harry Potter series, infamously referred to as ‘He who shall not be named.’
This episode comes amidst ongoing discussions about Trump’s own weight. Notably, when Trump was processed at Fulton County Jail over charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election, he claimed to weigh 215 pounds at a height of six-foot-three, a stature typically associated with professional athletes. This claim has been met with skepticism, especially given his previous weight of 239 pounds in 2018 and 244 pounds in 2020. The skepticism led to the emergence of the term ‘girthers,’ who question the accuracy of the measurements provided by then White House Dr. Ronny Jackson.