Chris Christie is serving as an on-air host as part of ABC News‘ coverage of Tuesday’s first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former vice president, Joe Biden. The problem with that, though, is that Christie also reportedly offered consultation to Trump ahead of the debate. The New York Times shared ahead of the event that the former New Jersey governor helped prep Trump to face-off against Biden and was advising him in the Oval Office.
This conflict of interest has caused quite the uproar among viewers. Christie has been working with ABC since 2018, but it’s his decision to coach Trump that is leading people to wonder just how unbiased his commentary would be on the national broadcast. The article notes that the network will disclose Christie’s role in advising Trump during the broadcast, which also was done during his appearance on Good Morning America. Trump and Christie’s relationship goes way back with Christie also helping him prepare for his debates back in 2016. During his visit to the set of Good Morning America, Christie said he expects Trump to have no problems against Biden, who released his tax returns as a strategic maneuver ahead of the affair.
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Here are some of the strongest reactions across Twitter after viewers learned of the potential conflict of interest with Christie serving as an on-air commentator during the debate.
So Chris Christie does debate prep with the president and now is going to do debate analysis for ABC? What, they couldn’t get Jared Kushner?
— Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) September 29, 2020
Using Chris Christie as an analyst is hysterical. #turnoffABC don’t use ABC!!
— Lemon (@Lemon067) September 30, 2020
@NicolleDWallace So now Chris Christie has lost his integrity, moral fiber and soul, not that he had much anyway. At this stage of game he knows exactly what he’s getting into. How pathetic these people are. 🇺🇸🗽⚖️
— Ncorinnek 🌅 (@beachgirl8164) September 30, 2020
@ABC is having Chris Christie, who was one of Trump’s debate coaches! WTF ABC News and CNN???
— Laura Votes 💙 🇺🇸 (@LauraMichaudCT) September 30, 2020
Chris Christie doing debate prep and then debate analysis is like directing a shitty low budget movie and the critics just so happen to finance the movie.🤔 What grade would they give
— Be the change you want to see🧔🏽🇺🇸🤲🏾 (@newageoftruth) September 30, 2020
And now Chris Christie will be a commentator on @ABC News tonight, even though he prepped Trump. #SkipABCtonight
— Michael R. Barnard (@mrbarnard1) September 30, 2020
Cmon. Be better. It’s like having the Jockey give color commentary for his own horse. @GovChristie shouldn’t be on the air as anything other than a Trump campaign representative.
— Joshua Hale Fialkov (@JoshFialkov) September 30, 2020
