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Chris Christie says Trump’s “intolerant language” has given people “permission” to act the same

“Intolerance toward anyone encourages intolerance toward everyone,” says the former New Jersey Gov.

Senior Culture Editor

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Donald Trump (L) speaks with Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) after he delivered remarks on combatting drug demand and the opioid crisis on October 26, 2017 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. ( JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump (L) speaks with Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) after he delivered remarks on combatting drug demand and the opioid crisis on October 26, 2017 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. ( JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, former New Jersey Gov. and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Chris Christie, placed further blame on Donald Trump for a rise in intolerance, making a case that people acting hateful are just following his lead. 

“When you show intolerance toward everyone, which is what [Trump] does, you give permission as a leader for others to have their intolerance come out,” Christie said, adding that “Intolerance toward anyone encourages intolerance toward everyone.”

This echos recent statements from Christie made against Trump in his campaign against the current GOP frontrunner in which he also blamed him for an uprise in bigotry against Jews, as Politico points out. In an interview with The New York Times published earlier this month, Christie said, “I don’t think Trump’s an antisemite,” but added that the former president's “intolerance of everybody” is “what’s contributed to” the surging bigotry.

“I think that there have been a lot of people who contributed to it,” Christie said Sunday. “I believe Donald Trump’s intolerant language and conduct gives others permission to act the same.”

 

By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Senior Culture Editor, where she helps further coverage of TV, film, music, books and culture trends from a unique and thoughtful angle. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

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