Presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ripped Donald Trump during a CNN town hall on Monday night, blaming him for the GOP underperforming in three straight elections.

Christie is seen as a longshot candidate and is polling poorly, but more than any other candidate has displayed a willingness to criticize Trump. The former governor explained his disbelief that other candidates are trying to avoid discussing Trump on the campaign trail.

“Say his name, man,” he said. “How do you beat someone if you won’t talk about them? How do you beat them if you won’t distinguish yourself from them?… The only thing he understands is force. The only thing he understands is coming right at him and making your case. And if these other candidates don’t want to do it, the American people and Republican primary voters have to start to understand this.”

Christie noted the gripes from Trump and other Republicans, accusing the Department of Justice of being “weaponized” after the former president was federally indicted last week.

“When did we get to the point [where] we’re always blaming our adversaries for the weakness of our candidates?” he asked. “‘Oh, it’s the Democrats fault, it’s the DOJ fault, it’s this person’s fault, it’s the media’s fault.’”

Christie then put the blame on Trump:

How about it’s his? He hasn’t won a damn thing since 2016. Three-time loser: 2018, we lost the House; 2020, we lost the White House; we lost the United States Senate a couple weeks later in 2021; and in 2022, we lost two more governorships, another Senate seat, and barely took the House of Representatives when Joe Biden had the most incompetent first two years I’d ever seen in my life.

Loser, loser, loser. Now we’re getting going. “It’ll be different this time?” Why? Why will it be different this time? Those arguments need to be made, and I’m not afraid to make them for two reasons. One, I’m not afraid of him. And two, it’s the truth.

Watch above via CNN.

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