LISTEN: Chris Christie Submits To Trump’s Dominance, Reveals DeSantis ‘Petrified’ In New Hot Mic Moment

Twice failed presidential candidate Chris Christie has officially submitted to the power of 45th president and leading 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump by dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination and sounding off on Trump's opponents in a new hot mic tape.

"We couldn't have been any more direct or worked any harder," Christie said in the audio tape. "Yeah, look. She spent $68 million so far just on TV. Spent $68 million so far. $59 million by DeSantis, and we spent $12. Like who's punching above their weight and who's getting a return on their investment, you know?" Christie said. "And she's going to get smoked. And you and I both know it. She's not up to this," Christie added. Another man joined in the conversation and asked, "She's still 20 points behind Trump in New Hampshire, right?" Christie responded, saying, "Oh, yeah. You know, I talked to… DeSantis called me petrified."

Christie campaigned as the top Trump critic in the field, earning him a dismal 3.5 percent polling average, placing fifth behind President Trump, according to RealClearPolling's polling average. President Trump reacted to the news on his top-rated social media platform, Truth Social, writing, "I hear Chris Christie is dropping out of the race today — I might even get to like him again! Anyway, he was just caught on a hot mic making a very truthful statement: 'She's gonna get smoked…You and I both know it, she's not up to this.'"

Christie exited the race, saying, "My goal has never been to be just a voice against the hate and division and selfishness of what our party has become under Donald Trump. It has also been to win the nomination and defeat Joe Biden to restore our party and our country to a new place of hope and optimism in this country," Christie said. "I have always said that if there came a point in time where I couldn't see a path to accomplishing that goal, that I would get out."

"And it is clear to me tonight that there isn't a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I'm suspending my campaign tonight for President of the United States. I know, and I can see it from some of the faces here, that I'm disappointing some people by doing this," Christie added. "I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again. And that's more important than my own personal ambitions," Christie said.

NEW: Chris Christie allegedly caught on "hot mic" talking about the Republican primaries, telling reporters that Nikki Haley is "going to get smoked."

He also claimed DeSantis called him on the phone and was "petrified."

"[Haley] spent 68 million so far just on TV... 59… pic.twitter.com/z3XMY94XdQ

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 10, 2024

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