'No Basis' For Trump Victory Claim: Former Gov. Chris Christie

NEW JERSEY - Earlier on election night, former Governor Chris Christie defended President Donald Trump speaking out as an appropriate response to former Vice President Joe Biden making a statement. But when Trump claimed premature victory, citing "major fraud" in the contest, Christie delivered a rebuke.

"There's just no basis to make that argument tonight," Christie said on ABC News. "There just isn't. All these votes have to be counted that are in now."

Christie said that all the votes that are in must be counted that he disagreed with Trump, who Christie believes needs to let the process play itself out before claiming it to be flawed.

"I am speaking tonight not as a former governor but as a former U.S. attorney. I think by prematurely doing this, if there is a flaw in it later, he has undercut his own credibility in calling attention to that flaw," Christie said. "So I think it's a bad strategic decision, it's a bad political decision, and it's not the kind of decision you would expect someone to make tonight who holds the position he holds."

Christie appeared on the program after battling COVID-19 in the Morristown Medical Center ICU, which he believes he contracted by going maskless during several trips to the White House.

"I was wrong," Christie said in a statement last month. "I was wrong to not wear a mask at the Amy Coney Barrett (Supreme Court nomination) announcement, and I was wrong not to wear a mask at my multiple debate prep sessions with the President and the rest of the team."

Christie was seen hugging others at the White House ceremony for Trump's announcement several weeks ago that Barrett had been nominated to the Supreme Court.

At least two US senators and several aides and reporters who were at that event – where few people wore masks – have since tested positive.

Christie also helped Trump prepare for the president's debate with former Vice President Joe Biden several weeks ago.

Christie, a strong supporter of Trump's since the former governor dropped out of the presidential race in 2016, distanced himself a little Wednesday over the election night results.

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