‘Nobody Laid a Glove on Donald Trump?’ Chris Christie Lashes Out on CNN Because Someone Didn’t Credit Him For Attacking Trump

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) lashed out during a CNN interview because one of the network’s reporters didn’t credit him for attacking ex-President Donald Trump at a debate.

The four remaining candidates who aren’t named Donald Trump — Former Amb. Nikki Haley, former and current Governors Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Vivek Ramaswamy — gathered at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the fourth Republican presidential primary debate, hosted by NewsNation.

That debate was characterized by Ramaswamy attacking Haley and being attacked in return, and Christie continuing to fill the otherwise-empty lane of going hard after Trump.

On Thursday morning’s edition of CNN This Morning, Christie made yet another post-debate appearance to replay his hits. But after the interview had already wrapped up, he doubled back to slam Jeff Zeleny for an earlier failure to sufficiently credit him for attacking Trump. Co-anchors Phil Mattingly and Poppy Harlow jumped to Zeleny’s defense:

PHIL MATTINGLY: All right. Governor Chris Christie unequivocally attacking the former president when others wouldn’t. Last night. Once again, we appreciate your time, sir. Thank you.

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Yeah. Oh, bae. Phil, by the way, would you remind Jeff Zeleny that I actually was doing that? I listened to Jeff this morning who said no one laid a glove on Donald Trump. I wondered whether Jeff was like watching a basketball game.

POPPY HARLOW: Oh, no. He was watching very closely.

CHRIS CHRISTIE: And then providing that providing commentary. But if you want to have somebody who’s going to lay a glove on Donald Trump, go to Chrischristie.com and donate. I’m the one who’s going to tell the truth and I’ll even tell it to Jeff Zeleny!

PHIL MATTINGLY: First off, I think Jeff Zeleny would happily have that discussion with you. I think you know that well, too. I think Jeff was talking about the bigger picture things where they stand right now. I will defend, I like you, man, but I will defend Jeff Zeleny against anybody, and his journalistic talent and observations.

POPPY HARLOW: And integrity.

CHRIS CHRISTIE: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I didn’t question his integrity. I just question whether he actually watched the debate. And even somebody like Jeff Zeleny can be wrong every once in a while guys.

But this was Zeleny literally hours earlier:

ZELENY: Now, he was at the center of the conversation, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie directly confronted him, saying he’s not fit for office.

And on the same show an hour earlier:

Christy stood alone in issuing a dire warning about the prospect of Trump returning to power.

Watch above via CNN This Morning.