Trump Revives Bridgegate in Fiery Threat Against Chris Christie

Former President Donald Trump has reignited his long-standing feud with ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, unleashing a public threat hinting at damaging revelations concerning the infamous Bridgegate scandal. In a recent social media post, Trump suggested Christie possesses knowledge of the 2013 lane closure controversy that he previously refrained from making public, dramatically escalating their already bitter political rivalry.

The threat, delivered on Truth Social, explicitly referenced the Bridgegate affair, where lanes on the George Washington Bridge were deliberately closed, allegedly to punish a local mayor who declined to endorse Christie for re-election.

While several of Christie's aides were convicted in connection with the scheme, Christie himself was never charged, consistently denying any prior knowledge. Trump's post claimed that Christie 'begged' him not to reveal certain information, ominously stating, 'I didn’t want to do that, but now, Chris, you’re on your own.'

This latest salvo marks a significant turning point in the relationship between the two one-time allies.

Christie was an early and influential supporter of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, even leading his transition team. However, their bond fractured dramatically, particularly as Christie emerged as one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics in recent years, frequently lambasting the former president on the campaign trail and in media appearances.

The Bridgegate scandal cast a long shadow over Christie's political career, ultimately derailing his own presidential ambitions.

The affair involved the closure of local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge for several days, causing severe traffic jams and widespread public outrage. Prosecutors argued the closures were orchestrated by Christie's loyalists as political retribution, though Christie maintained his innocence and was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing by federal courts in 2020 after the convictions of his aides were overturned.

Trump's decision to weaponize Bridgegate against Christie underscores his well-documented pattern of using past controversies and personal attacks to discredit political opponents.

As the 2024 election cycle intensifies, this renewed threat highlights the deep animosity that continues to define the relationship between the former president and his erstwhile ally, promising further fireworks in the Republican political landscape.