Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 15: Former Chris Christie, the ex-governor of New Jersey, has cautioned that actions taken by the administration of Donald Trump are weakening trust in key American institutions, particularly the United States Department of Justice.
Speaking on the podcast The Fifth Column, Christie said the politicisation of the Justice Department is the most damaging aspect of the current administration.
“What he’s done with this Justice Department is the single most destructive thing about this administration. I don’t think it’s even close,” Christie said.
Christie, who served two terms as governor and later sought the Republican presidential nomination, warned that the growing perception that prosecutions are politically motivated could seriously undermine public confidence in the rule of law.
“Once you have put in the public’s mind that the party of a prosecutor determines how they make their decisions versus the facts, how do you fix that?” he asked.
He argued that rebuilding credibility in the justice system would require a long-term effort.
“If you have any hope of restoring the Justice Department, it would take two terms to get that done,” Christie said.
According to him, the effects of the current political climate are already visible in courtrooms, where judges are becoming more sceptical of claims made by government lawyers.
Christie also criticised the internal dynamics within the Republican Party, suggesting that many lawmakers publicly support Trump out of political fear rather than conviction.
“It’s not as much about Trump. It’s about their fear of Trump. And their fear of Trump is not personal. It’s political,” he said.
He added that many Republican leaders worry that opposing the former president could trigger primary challenges backed by Trump, potentially ending their political careers.
Despite his sharp criticism, Christie said he is not yet ready to leave the Republican Party, though he acknowledged that the party has changed significantly in recent years.
“There are no principles left in my party. The only principle is Trump,” he said.
Christie, who once chaired Trump’s presidential transition team in 2016, later became one of his most vocal Republican critics. He said the current political moment reflects a broader shift within the party and the US political system, though he believes the landscape could change once Trump eventually steps away from politics.