New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie decided against answering questions about Donald Trump Monday during a press conference announcing a nomination to the state supreme court, deeming them “off-topic questions.”
When pressed multiple times during a press conference intended to discuss the nomination of Superior Court Judge David Bauman to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, Christie brushed aside questions about Trump and his recent failure to disavow former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke. Throughout the nearly 20 minute long press conference, Christie told reporters repeatedly that he was sticking to questions that were about the nomination.
“No, I won’t permit you to. I told you that there’s only going to be on-topic questions today, so permission denied,” Christie told one reporter when pressed about Trump.
“That’s an off-topic question. I think you understand that I’m answering on-topic questions today, not off-topic questions,” Christie told another reporter. When asked why he wouldn’t, the governor shot back “because I don’t want to.”
“Anything else on topic?” Christie asked the press corps, repeating the line four times.
Christie continued to deny reporters asking such questions, batting away three other inquiries from reporters.
“Enough — seriously,” Christie told another reporter in attendance. “You know there’s no shot [of me answering that question], so either you’re putting on a performance for the cameras or not. No chance I’m answering those questions.”
“Any other questions on-topic?” Christie asked the reporters at the end of his press conference. “Excellent.”
He did take one off-topic question, however, arguing that the U.S. Senate should hold hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.
