Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) warned that Republican candidates could face growing political risks if they remain closely tied to President Donald Trump as voters express dissatisfaction with his administration’s performance.
Christie Warns GOP Over Trump Fallout
On Monday, in a post on X, Christie said, "Republicans have a decision to make: distance themselves from this president, or go down with him. And this is the first time he’s going to have to confront that."
In an interview with ABC News, former New Jersey Governor said Republicans should be concerned about recent polling numbers, particularly among voters who could decide competitive races.
"Republicans, my party, has got to be scared," he said, citing Fox News poll results that he said showed Trump facing challenges on issues including the economy, Iran and inflation.
"The bigger problem in these swing districts for the House and these swing states in the Senate is what’s going on with independents," Christie said.
He added, "Those are deadly numbers."
He argued that Republican candidates in competitive races may struggle if voters view them as closely tied to Trump’s performance and policies.
"Either they’re going to go down with him as he’s going down," Christie said, adding that the party faces "real problems" heading into future elections.
Republicans have a decision to make: distance themselves from this president, or go down with him. And this is the first time he's going to have to confront that. pic.twitter.com/9NnKrVnfNz
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) July 27, 2026
Read Also: Kalshi Traders See Democrats Sweeping the White House and Congress in 2028, Give GOP Just 20% Odds
Trump Approval Falls Amid Iran War Concerns
This month, Trump’s approval rating dropped to near record lows as voters raised concerns over the Iran conflict and higher gas prices.
An Economist/YouGov poll showed 37% of voters approved of Trump’s performance, while 59% disapproved.
The poll found that 57% of voters believed the Iran war was the wrong decision, while more Americans expected the conflict to continue for at least another year.
Trump Pushes GOP On Stricter Election Rules
Earlier, Trump urged Republicans to pass stricter election measures, including voter ID, proof of citizenship and limits on mail-in voting, ahead of the midterm elections.
He argued the reforms could help the GOP maintain long-term political dominance and accused Democrats of opposing election safeguards.
Trump also called for ending the Senate filibuster to pass voting legislation, while Democrats raised concerns over potential changes to election rules and voting access.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Christopher Halloran on Shutterstock.com
