Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently penned an op-ed in the New York Times, emphasizing the need for former President Donald Trump to address the escalating political violence in the country. Christie highlighted the sentiment that both Republicans and Democrats have expressed, stating that there is no place for political violence, following the recent assassination attempt on Trump.
Christie drew connections between various instances of violence, including the shooting at Trump's Pennsylvania rally, the events of January 6, the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, and the Charlottesville White supremacist demonstrations in 2017. He urged Trump to take action to curb these destructive forces.
Christie suggested that Trump has the opportunity to rein in some of the negative rhetoric within the Republican Party during the upcoming convention. However, he expressed disappointment in Trump's recent actions, particularly criticizing the selection of Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. Christie argued that this choice further divides the party rather than uniting it.
Vance, in response to the assassination attempt, blamed Biden's rhetoric, claiming that it fueled the violence. He accused the Biden campaign of portraying Trump as an authoritarian fascist, leading to the attempted assassination.
Christie's op-ed coincided with the Republican National Convention, where Trump's former primary rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, were scheduled to speak. Trump aims to solidify support among Republican voters as the party prepares for the upcoming elections.
