Donald Trump warned Republican rival Chris Christie Monday to “be careful” when criticizing him, hours after the New Jersey governor flat out rejected Trump’s claim that Muslims in Jersey City, N.J., celebrated the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
“Definitively, I’ve said this a number of times: It didn’t happen,” Christie told reporters in N.H. Monday. “The fact is, people can say whatever they like. But the facts are the facts, and that did not happen in New Jersey that day, and it hasn’t happened since.”
When asked last week if residents of his state had celebrated the downing of the Twin Towers, Christie told reporters, “I don’t remember that, no.”
“He was very weak the other day,” Trump said Monday, referring to Christie’s initial refusal to identify his opponent’s claim as true or false.
He continued, “[Christie] said it like, well he doesn’t know. And now I guess he feels a little emboldened.”
“He must be careful with what he says,” Trump added.
Nevertheless, Christie assured reporters Monday he wasn’t trying to dodge earlier questions on the matter.
“I said I didn’t remember it. That was the way I put it that day. It wasn’t me trying to hedge anything. It was me telling you the truth: I don’t remember it happening. Which means, and I said I think even that day — if it had happened, I’m pretty sure I’d remember it,” the Garden State governor said.
Trump and Christie are first and sixth in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings.
