Chris Christie: I Will Not Resign
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- After days of talk about his support for Donald Trump, Gov. Chris Christie went on the defensive during a news conference in Trenton Thursday to try to steer the conversation back to his priorities in New Jersey.
But when Christie opened the floor up to questions after talking about the state budget, reporters had a lot of them. And despite his attempt to talk about state issues, reporters inevitably wanted to know about his support for Trump.
"All the ones that have been pent up inside you that have just been eating you alive to have the opportunity to ask me," Christie told reporters.
CBS2's Sonia Rincon reports Christie said during his news conference that he's focused on his constituents and dismissed the calls of various newspapers calling for him to resign.
"They're trying to be relevant and the only way to do that is to set themselves on fire," Christie said.
Seven New Jersey newspapers have called on Christie to resign. The Star-Ledger said Christie has made it clear that governing the state is a "distant second priority'' that comes behind his personal ambition. Six newspapers published by Gannett also called for his resignation.
"I am not shocked that the Star Ledger editorial page or the Gannett editorial page, none of which have ever supported me, my policies or my existence, would call on me now to resign," the governor said.
The governor said he's not "shocked" by the newspapers' stance since they haven't supported him in the past.
"I intend to be here until Jan. 16, I believe it is, 2018 and then I intend to leave to go to the private sector," Christie said. "There is nothing that will change that."
Christie, who ended his own Republican presidential campaign last month, said he's endorsing the GOP front-runner because he thinks Trump is the only candidate left who can beat Hillary Clinton.
"As a Republican I feel strongly about making sure that Hillary Clinton does not become president of the United States, and I believe Donald Trump is the best person -- of those remaining -- to do that," Christie said. "I honestly thought I was better; the voters disagreed."
Christie noted that despite jokes from online commenters, he wasn't forced into giving any coerced statements on Trump's behalf Tuesday night.
"This is part of the hysteria of the people who opposed my Trump endorsement,'' Christie said.
Christie defended Trump from Mitt Romney's criticism.
"I know Donald Trump and he's not a bigot," Christie said, adding that he will not be a full-time surrogate for Trump.
The governor also addressed his seemingly shell-shocked look as he stood behind Trump at his Super Tuesday news conference.
"No, I wasn't being held hostage. No, I wasn't sitting up there thinking, 'Oh, my God, what have I done?'" Christie said. "I don't know what I was supposed to be doing. All these armchair psychiatrists should give it a break.''
He added that his face was stoic because he was merely listening as Trump spoke.
"I stood where they asked me to stand. What do I care? Do you think I really care? --- I really don't,'' he said. "Next week there will be an Internet freakout about something else.''
The governor said for as long as he remains in office his main goal is to "do things right by the people of this state."
He did shoot one question down Thursday. When a reporter asked if he would resign if he were Trump's pick for vice president, he replied, "Next!''
Christie insisted he's been here for 19 out of 22 days since he dropped out of the presidential race and has no plans to campaign with Trump again anytime soon.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
