Christie Hits Trump Where It Hurts With Jimmy Carter Comparison: ‘He is Being Held Hostage By Iran’

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Former Republican governor of New Jersey and one-time Trump ally, Chris Christie, jabbed President Donald Trump exactly where he knew it would hurt the most: comparing him to ex-President Jimmy Carter.

Christ appeared on ABC’s This Week over the weekend and during the “Powerhouse Roundtable” segment pulled no punches in hammering the president.

“Look, the real problem here is it was an adventure without a plan. And now, you know, I was struck this week when the Iranians put out their list of demands to reopen the strait — reparations, etc. What struck me was that Donald Trump is about to become what he never, ever wanted to be: Jimmy Carter,” Christie insisted, adding:

He is being held hostage by Iran. They are holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage. As a result, they’re holding the world economy hostage. And it’s focused at Donald Trump. And I know from talking to him over the last 24 years, the one person he would never want to be is Jimmy Carter. Talk to him about Jimmy Carter, too. And so here we are. And it was all voluntary.

Christie, who was a key endorser of Trump in 2016 and helped lead his transition team, has become one of the president’s most fierce critics – often landing jabs he knows that Trump will take personally. Trump has long attacked Carter in speeches and made clear he considers him to be the worst president of his lifetime.

In late July, Christie attacked Trump’s showmanship and ability to command the attention of the nation, something he knows the president focuses on.

“He can no longer distract from bad decisions with his charisma,” Christie said of Trump. “No one is paying attention anymore. They are bored with the act. At times on Friday night, it seemed like he was even bored with the act.”

“And the Iranians notice all of this, ” he added. “They’re not going to take him seriously. And that has got to be incredibly frustrating to a president who all he cares about is that people take him seriously.”

Watch the clips above.

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