WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump rekindled his Hudson River rivalry with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as they quibbled about what is a bridge too far in punishing political rivals.The latest salvo came from the Oval Office, where the native New Yorker president insulted Christie on Aug. 25 as “a slob.” But Trump stopped short of saying Christie should be investigated criminally for his role in closing lanes of the George Washington Bridge as alleged retaliation against a mayor who didn’t endorse him.
“I think we have other things to do,” Trump said before adding: “I always thought he got away with murder.”
The political quibble came after Christie, a former U.S. attorney and two-time Republican presidential primary opponent of Trump, joined a chorus of critics accusing the president of wielding the Justice Department as his personal legal representative.
Christie’s comments came after Trump directed federal authorities to take over the DC police department and FBI agents searched the home of former national security adviser John Bolton.
“Donald Trump sees himself as the person who gets to decide everything,” Christie told ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” on Aug. 24. “In fact he absolutely rejects the idea that there should be separation between criminal investigation and the politically elected leader.”
Trump initially responded on social media by suggesting that Christie should be investigated for his role in the 2013 lane closures of the George Washington Bridge, allegedly to cause a traffic jam.
Two officials in Christie’s administration were charged, but the Supreme Court later overturned their federal convictions in 2020. Christie was never charged.
When a reporter asked Aug. 25 if Christie should be investigated, Trump told reporters his response is always to ask about the George Washington Bridge.
“Chris is a slob. Everybody knows it,” Trump said. “I always felt he was guilty.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump calls Chris Christie ‘a slob’ as Hudson River feud persists
