Chris Christie in CNN "State of the Union" interviews for 2023 races

On Abortion: No federal ban on abortion without national consensus

We have argued as conservatives for 50 years that this should not be a federal issue, that Roe was wrong, and that it should be an issue decided state by state. We now have that opportunity to let states to make that decision state by state. Let's see what the states do here and see if they form a national consensus, because there's no way you're going to get 60 votes in the Senate for anything unless you have formed a national consensus. Source: CNN interviews on 2023 Presidential hopefuls Jun 18, 2023

On Families & Children: Government shouldn't interfere with parents on gender care

Q: As governor of New Jersey, you signed into law some legal protections for trans people, including students. What do you make of your fellow Republican governors and candidates going in the opposite direction?

CHRISTIE: What I believe we should be focused on in these issues is making sure there is parental involvement at every step along the way. I don't think that the government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender. And I just would say that parents are the people who are best positioned to make these judgments. And so what I'd like to make sure each state does is require that parents be involved in these decisions. We were talking about students; people under the age of 18. And the fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support and guidance and love as they make all of the key decisions of their life.

Source: CNN interviews on 2023 Presidential hopefuls Jun 18, 2023

On Principles & Values: Unacceptable to pressure officials to alter election results

It's absolutely unacceptable to be pressuring a governor or any elected official, as it was with the secretary of state in Georgia, to try to find votes to be able to win a state that you didn't win or to try to somehow come up with some kind of ridiculous theory to overturn the results in Arizona. Let me tell you why he lost Arizona. He had become a caricature of himself, because he had not done the job the American people elected him to do. Source: CNN interviews on 2023 Presidential hopefuls Jul 2, 2023

On Principles & Values: Will take pledge to support nominee as seriously as Trump

Q: If Donald Trump is the nominee, will you pledge to support him and vote for him even if he's a convicted felon?

CHRISTIE: We went to a debate, and we were all asked if we would reaffirm our support of whoever the nominee was going to be by raising our hand. There were 10 of us on the stage. Nine of us raised our hands. The one who didn't was Donald Trump. And so I will take the pledge in 2024 just as seriously as Donald Trump took the pledge in 2016.

Source: CNN interviews on 2023 Presidential hopefuls Jun 18, 2023

On Budget & Economy: Biden responsible for inflation: Jimmy Carter of the 2020s

Q: Inflation is creeping down to 3%. Do you think President Biden deserves any credit for that?

CHRISTIE: What he deserves credit for is the fact that everything is 17% more expensive today than it was when he took the oath of office on January 20 of 2021. Interest rates are at our highest level in 25 years, making it much more expensive for people to buy a home, to buy a car, to be able to invest in their business and grow it to create jobs. This guy is the Jimmy Carter of the 2020s.

Source: CNN SOTU interviews on 2023 Presidential primary hopefuls Jul 30, 2023

On Immigration: Trump didn't do anything to make immigration laws stronger

Donald Trump was arguing again last night about immigration. He didn't do anything to change the immigration laws to make them better or stronger for America. And he built 47 miles of new wall in his four years as president. At that rate, he would need 110 more years as president to be able to finish the wall between United States and Mexico. Source: CNN SOTU interviews on 2023 Presidential primary hopefuls Jul 16, 2023

The above quotations are from CNN "State of the Union" interviews for 2023 races (Jake Tapper and Dana Bash interviewing candidates for 2021-2023 races). Click here for other excerpts from CNN "State of the Union" interviews for 2023 races (Jake Tapper and Dana Bash interviewing candidates for 2021-2023 races). Click here for other excerpts by Chris Christie. Click here for a profile of Chris Christie.
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Page last updated: Sep 17, 2023