TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday night said he likely would have resigned as New Jersey governor if President Donald Trump had offered him the post of U.S. Attorney General.
“That would have been a hard thing to turn down,” Christie told Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, after the governor was pressed on whether he wanted the position.
Christie also said the president’s executive order temporarily restricting travel from seven majority-Muslim countries “wasn’t rolled out the correct way,” taking aim at Trump’s advisers for the third time this week.
“It wasn’t explained in the right way,” he said during an appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor. “The president deserves better.”
Christie praised Trump’s decision to tap U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) as attorney general, arguing he was a good choice and that he supports him.
But the governor suggested that given his seven years as a U.S. attorney, it would have been a post he would have readily accepted if it was offered.
O’Reilly asked Christie bluntly why he wasn’t in Washington D.C. working under the new administration.
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“I didn’t get offered something that made me want to resign as governor,” Christie said. “I wanted to be the governor of New Jersey.”
Christie went on to say if Trump has offered him “something that was really compelling,” he would have reconsidered.
In December, sources with knowledge of Trump’s transition efforts told NJ Advance Media that Trump offered Christie numerous positions in his administration.
The sources said those jobs included a Cabinet-level post like Homeland Security secretary and U.S. ambassador to Italy.
Earlier that month, Christie said he didn’t feel snubbed by Trump for being passed over for attorney general.
Asked whether he was upset about not being Trump’s pick for attorney general, the governor batted down the question.
“No,” Christie said during a co-hosting appearance on the “Boomer and Carton” radio show. “Listen: Nobody is entitled to those jobs.”
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.
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