Chris Christie drops out of GOP presidential primary

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the GOP presidential primary, announcing at an event on Wednesday that he is suspending his presidential campaign because he does not see a path to secure the nomination.

The move comes less than a week before the Iowa Republican presidential caucus, the first contest in the GOP presidential nominating process. The New Hampshire Republican presidential primary will take place later this month.

While Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has thrown his support behind former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's candidacy.

Christie was caught on a hot mic saying, in an apparent reference to Haley, that she will "get smoked" and is "not up to this."

He has been a staunch critic of former President Donald Trump, who remains the clear frontrunner in the GOP presidential primary, polls indicate.

"I hear Chris Christie is dropping out of the race today — I might even get to like him again!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Anyway, he was just caught on a hot mic making a very truthful statement: 'She's gonna get smoked…You and I both know it, she's not up to this.'"

DeSantis declared in a tweet that he agreed that Haley will "get smoked."

"Chris Christie has been a friend for many years. I commend him on a hard-fought campaign. Voters have a clear choice in this election: the chaos and drama of the past or a new generation of conservative leadership. I will fight to earn every vote, so together we can build a strong and proud America," Haley tweeted.

DeSantis and Haley will face off in a CNN debate in Iowa on Wednesday night, while Trump, who also qualified for the debate, will do a Fox News town hall.

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