New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday said Donald Trump’s recently unearthed lewd comments from 2005 are “completely indefensible” and that he told Mr. Trump he didn’t think his apology was enough, but said he’s still supporting the GOP presidential nominee.
“On the video itself, let’s be really clear: It is completely indefensible, and I won’t defend it and haven’t defended it,” Mr. Christie said on the “Boomer and Carton” sports talk show on WFAN radio Tuesday.
“That kind of talk and conversation, even in private, is just unacceptable,” Mr. Christie said. “I made that very clear to Donald on Friday when this first came out and urged him to be contrite and apologetic, because that’s what he needs to be.”
“For me, this is just stuff that you just can’t, can’t be involved in and shouldn’t even be thinking,” Mr. Christie said.
In the 2005 video, Mr. Trump talks about groping women’s genitals and said he “moved on” one married woman “like a bitch,” though he admitted he was unsuccessful in that pursuit. Mr. Trump later apologized and said it was “locker room” talk.
Mr. Christie said he didn’t think Mr. Trump’s apology was enough, and said he told him that.
“I would have done it much differently, but I do think he’s sorry and I do think he’s embarrassed by it,” Mr. Christie said.
“No question in my mind about it. I was there when he found out about it,” Mr. Christie said. “There’s no question in my mind he’s embarrassed by it, but I think that he should have been much more direct and much more focused on just saying ’I’m sorry’ and only I’m sorry.”
In a video released early Saturday morning, Mr. Trump apologized, and also went on to attack his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and former President Clinton in the taped statement.
Mr. Christie said he’s still supporting Mr. Trump.
“In the end, this election’s about bigger issues than just that,” he said. “At this point, I still support him … but certainly, you take some time to think about that when you’re going through this.”
“Anybody who hears that video was disturbed by it and offended by it — as well they should be,” the New Jersey governor said.
Mr. Christie said “only Donald knows” whether there’s other damaging material yet to be released.
Mr. Christie, a former 2016 GOP presidential candidate, has been one of Mr. Trump’s biggest supporters and had reportedly been on the short list to be Mr. Trump’s running mate.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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