New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reiterated Tuesday that he has no plans to join the Trump administration and will finish out the final 14 months of his current office.
Christie made the announcement to reporters after detailing planned renovations of the New Jersey statehouse, and added that he is “not going anywhere.” The event was originally dubbed a “press conference,” but changed to a “press announcement” amid speculation that it could be related to President-elect Trump’s cabinet selections, which his team continued rolling out on Tuesday.
“From some of the reaction I got that I was having a press announcement, I think many of you thought I was announcing something else,” Christie said. “To end today, I want to tell you — I have said … I am completing my term.”
“I am telling you that I am completing my term. Now, I will tell you that if something extraordinary happens in the world where my service is needed, I will consider any requests that are made. That’s not being equivocal about it. That’s understanding what the real world is. But I want you to all take a deep breath and relax. For those of you who would be distraught over the idea that I would leave before Jan. 18 of 2018, no reason for you to be distraught. For those who are looking forward to me leaving before Jan. 18 of 2018, sorry to disappoint you but I’m not going to.”
“For whatever camp you fall into … I’m not going anywhere,” Christie said.
Trump announced a pair of high-level cabinet selections Tuesday: Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., will be his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary, and Elaine Chao is his pick to be Transportation secretary.
Christie had been talked about for a number of potential posts in Trump’s administration, including for attorney general, which was given to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.
