Chris Christie sounds like he’s itching to trade blows with former President Donald Trump ― and not just in a debate. (Watch the video below.)
Asked by Piers Morgan on Thursday how he’d fare against Trump in the UFC octagon or boxing ring, the 60-year-old Christie declared, “Come on. The guy’s 78 years old, I’d kick his ass.” (Trump’s 77, but we get the point.)
Christie remains a longshot to knock Trump out of his lead in the GOP presidential race ― he’s polling in the single digits in some polls ― but he’s landed several critiques of the twice-indicted former president. He remains one of the few Republicans to consistently jab at Trump over his legal woes.
While a physical throwdown would be a promoter’s dream, a spokesperson for Trump appeared to question Christie even entertaining Morgan’s provocation.
“Chris Christie should think before he opens his mouth,” Trump rep Steven Cheung told Politico.
A touted bout between tech heavyweights Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk seems far more likely to get off the ground ― but the prospect of the former New Jersey governor who once coached Trump for his debates squaring up against him does have its appeal.
Incidentally, Morgan asked Christie to handicap a potential Zuckerberg-Musk fight.
“If I were Elon, I would be a little bit worried,” Christie said, per Politico.
Christie passed the donor threshold to qualify for the first GOP debate on Aug. 23. But any swings he takes at Trump will likely be without the former president in the room. Trump has repeatedly questioned why he would debate while holding such a big lead.