Christie ends campaign: Rivals, voters react

Following former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's announcement Wednesday that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, reaction soon poured in from his supporters and political rivals, including former President Donald Trump, who Christie vehemently campaigned against.

«I hear Chris Christie is dropping out of the race today — I might even get to like him again!» Trump posted on Truth Social shortly after Christie announced the news.

Among the Republican candidates, the former New Jersey governor was perhaps the most outspoken against Trump.

Christie centered his campaign on defeating the former president and wasn't shy about calling him out, including for his election denialism, mounting legal woes and involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

However, Christie was once a Trump supporter — endorsing him in the 2016 presidential race after he suspended his own campaign.

During his presidency, Trump appointed Christie chair of the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.

Christie has since repeatedly expressed regret for endorsing Trump back in 2016.

«I made a political decision eight years ago when I dropped out of the race in 2016. I looked at the polls, and I decided that Donald Trump was going to be the nominee. And that since I'd known him for 15 years, that I could make him a better candidate,» Christie said Wednesday during his final town hall where he announced his departure from the race.

«I knew his flaws, but I also knew he was going to win the nomination. So I decided that I would get behind him and support him,» he continued. «I let the ambition get ahead and in control of the decision-making, and after I figured that out, I promised myself and I promised my wife that I