Trump 'scared to death' of Christie, Kinzinger says

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) argued that former President Trump is "scared to death" of 2024 GOP presidential rival Chris Christie.

Kinzinger said during an appearance on CNN that the former president’s decision to skip Wednesday’s Republican primary debate is the wrong move, arguing Trump should make his case to GOP voters on why they should elect him again despite recent electoral losses.

“I’m sure, you know, some political consultants ... would say, you know, ‘Don’t go debate, there’s no benefit in it,’ but honest to goodness … Donald Trump is a coward,” Kinzinger, a CNN political commentator and vocal Trump critic, said on the network. “He’s scared to death of Chris Christie, because I think Chris Christie is gonna wipe the floor with him and I think that’s what he’s afraid of.”

Christie has been among the most outspoken rivals to go after Trump so far, with the former New Jersey governor calling Trump a "certified loser, verified coward" over his plans to skip the first GOP debate in Milwaukee.

Trump announced his decision to skip the debate Sunday on Truth Social. In a post explaining his reasoning, the former president cited his sizable lead in polling in the Republican primaries.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more,” Trump wrote. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”