Former NJ Gov. Chris Christie endorses Tom Rice, calls Trump involvement ‘vindictive’
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rice in South Carolina on Thursday, saying the GOP congressman deserves the support of conservatives nationwide despite former President Donald Trump’s insistence that Rice is “respected by no one.”
Rice, previously a Trump ally, is currently on the former president’s list of politicians to run out of office this year for impeaching or criticizing him. Trump endorsed one of Rice’s opponents in February.
“Quite frankly, I think the former president’s actions in this primary are vindictive, and they’re just personal,” Christie told reporters, as he endorsed Rice for reelection to represent South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District.
Christie, the former Republican governor of a reliably blue state, who was also a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, praised Rice for helping to create jobs in Horry County and across the 7th District.
Christie said such work has “been incredibly helpful to lift people out of poverty and give their families a chance to put food on the table and live the kind of lives they want to live.” Rice, at events, frequently notes that the unemployment rate has fallen substantially across the 7th District during his time in office.
“Congressman Rice is one of those folks who deserves the support of conservatives around this country,” Christie said. “He’s earned it and we should not be placing the personal vendettas of one person ahead of the good of all the people in this congressional district.”
Christie’s endorsement comes as both Rice and his Trump-backed opponent — state Rep. Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach — pull in endorsements from Republicans around the country. Fry has earned the backing of several pro-Trump figures including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and Trump’s ambassador to Germany, Ric Grenell.
Rice, meanwhile, has earned the backing of U.S. House colleague Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, who has emerged as a Trump critic since January 2021.
Asked about earning endorsements from national figures, Rice laughed.
“I’ve certainly gotten more popular,” he said.
Christie told reporters that his endorsement of Rice comes with financial support. After touring Conway Medical Center, the pair headed to a fundraiser at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach.
He said Republicans nationwide should support Rice.
“Congressman Rice has an extraordinary conservative record that Republicans all over the country should be proud of,” Christie said.
Why Christie’s endorsement matters
Eight Republicans are challenging Rice this year, including Fry and Horry County school board chairman Ken Richardson, in part because Rice voted to impeach Trump in January 2021.
Rice’s impeachment vote came after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, which ultimately led to several deaths. The congressman has said he viewed Trump’s actions on that day as violating the Constitution. He frequently reminds constituents that he voted in favor of priorities of the Trump administration 94% of the time.
Christie, in the aftermath of Jan. 6 and Trump’s second impeachment, told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that the riot was Trump’s fault and that Trump was explicitly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost.
Despite some Republicans agreeing with Christie, Rice’s impeachment vote led conservatives across South Carolina to condemn Rice, and the congressman was censured by both the Horry County Republican Party and the South Carolina GOP.
By the fall, Trump was calling for “good and smart” candidates to oust Rice, fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Daniel Island, and other Republicans who had impeached him or had criticized him.
Then, in February, Trump endorsed Fry and flew to Florence to share a rally stage with him in March.
“Thankfully, this June you have the chance to dump these grand-standing losers and replace them with two rock-solid America First champions,” Trump told the Florence crowd, referencing Rice and Mace.
Fry said voters would “impeach Tom Rice at the ballot box.”
Christie said Thursday that Rice has “earned my support, he’s earned my friendship, and he’s earned my endorsement.”
“I’ll do whatever I can between now and his primary Election Day, and run-off if necessary, to make sure folks know that conservatives around the country who have accomplished things believe in him.”
Christie served as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008 and served two terms as governor from 2010 to 2018. He’s been both an ally and opponent of Trump, most recently assisting the former president with debate preparation ahead of the 2020 election.
Fry’s campaign, in a statement, said Christie backing Rice “marks another endorsement for Tom Rice from the anti-Trump wing of the Republican party.” The campaign dinged the endorsement and said Christie “has a liberal record.”
Why Christie came to Horry County
Christie’s Thursday visit to Horry County had a dual purpose: Endorsing and fundraising for Rice, and touring Conway Medical Center’s flagship hospital to thank doctors and nurses for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christie and Rice spent about 40 minutes Thursday afternoon touring the hospital and speaking with volunteers, nurses, doctors and hospital administrators. The pair chatted with hospital staff and posed for pictures. At one point, the two politicians purchased Conway Medical Center t-shirts from hospital volunteers.
Rice suggested that the volunteers should dig out an extra small shirt for Christie.
“Bless you Congressman,” Christie joked in reply.
At another point during the tour, a Conway Medical Center doctor asked the politicians if they’d ever caught COVID-19. Rice said he had, early on in the pandemic.
Christie, though, was blunt.
“I caught it from the President of the United States,” he said, to laughter.
Christie explained that he believed he caught COVID-19 from Trump in October 2020 as he was helping the former president prepare for a debate against President Joe Biden.
He went on to say that he believed he was one of the first people to receive monoclonal antibody treatment from Eli Lilly and Company, in part because he spent seven days in intensive care. The Food and Drug Administration didn’t approve the treatment until February 2021.
“I got one of these six-page consent forms that basically said, ‘We don’t know what this is going to do to you, but whatever it does to you it’s your fault,’” Christie said. “And I signed it. Let me tell you I signed it.”
“It’s what made me better.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details.
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 1:37 PM.
