What Chris Christie had to say at the Republican debate in Miami

The field is down to five and while former Gov. Chris Christie isn’t leading any polls, he continues to qualify for the Republican presidential debates.

He was among the hopefuls that took the stage Wednesday night for the third debate, this time in Miami alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Noticeably absent – again – was front runner former President Donald Trump. Since the last debate, former Vice President Mike Pence ended his campaign.

While making his case during his opening remarks, Christie highlighted the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine as well as the trouble at home such as inflation.

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He called America an “indispensable nation” that makes the world safer and that “American hard work has always been the thing that has driven our country to greater things.” He didn’t shy away from taking aim at Trump though.

“Anybody who is going to be spending the next year and a half of their life focusing on keeping themselves out of jail and courtrooms cannot lead this party or this country,” he said.

Christie on Israel

When asked about the war in Israel and what he would tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “do what you need to preserve Israel” and to make sure that he protects both the territorial integrity of Israel as well as the safety of its people as well as “make sure Hamas can never do this again.”

Christie also addressed the escalation in hate crimes throughout the country in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack, noting that he was appointed U.S. Attorney on Sept. 10, 2001 and that he had to navigate keeping residents safe from extremists at that time.

“It takes leadership to know how to do this,” the former governor said.

Much of the first hour of the debate focused on the wars in Israel and Ukraine and Christie was not opposed to the idea of sending troops to Europe noting that the last time there was a ground war on the continent, America held off and it “bought us a few years” before entering World War II.

“This is not a choice. This is the price we pay for being the leaders of the free world,” he said. “Those of us who forget history are doomed to repeat it and the absolute giving in to dictators which is being suggested on this stage just shows the immaturity of the approach.”

Christie also talked about increasing the nuclear submarine program to serve as a deterrent to keep China out of Taiwan and the pervasive nature of TikTok.

“It is polluting the minds of American young people throughout this country and they are doing it intentionally,” he said. “This is China trying to further divide the United States of America.”

The former governor also used the topic as a way to take a shot at Trump calling TikTok “one of the big failings among many of the Trump administration.”

When asked about affordability and inflation, Christie said that it all comes back to the conflicts overseas and the impact they have on oil prices.

Christie on Social Security

Christie was also asked about social security and his suggestion to raise the retirement age. While he wouldn’t commit to a specific age because that is something to be negotiated with Congress, he did say that there are only three things that determine whether the program can be solvent or not, retirement age, eligibility for the program and taxes.

“The fact is on social security, remember why it was established,” he said. “It was established as a safety net program to make sure no one would grow old in this country in poverty and that’s what we’ve got to get back to.”

The candidates were each asked about the fentanyl epidemic. Christie said that he would invest in law enforcement technology and send the National Guard to the borders to help stop the flow of the drug into the country. He also noted that he would “call it what it is, a disease” and work to provide treatment for those suffering from addiction.

On the topic of abortion, Christie maintained his stance that since the courts decided that it is up to the states to decide what best suited residents, that power should remain with the states and not be regulated by the federal government.

During his closing comment, Christie called it a “gift to be an American” and that he was running to be a “president of consequence” and to “return honesty and integrity to the Oval Office.”

“I’m tired of seeing the division. I’m tired of seeing the anger and I can see it in the eyes of Americans, their exhaustion,” he said. “Our differences have always been our strength as a country, not our weakness, but you can’t truly say you love America unless you’re willing to open your heart to every American.”

Christie campaign

Since declaring his candidacy in June, Christie has failed to surpass Trump in any polls though he continues to focus his attention on his one-time friend.

In televised appearances, Christie has called Trump, "angry" and "vengeful," saying the former president would spend a potential second term "settling scores" against enemies real and perceived.

"He's shown himself to be completely self-centered, completely self-consumed," Christie said of Trump. "He doesn't give a damn about the American people."

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Christie endorsed Trump in 2016 after shutting down his own campaign. He went on to help the former president prepare for debates and served for a time on his transition team.

Since leaving office, Christie has returned to his roots as a lawyer. He also has served as a political analyst and legal contributor for ABC News. He's worked as a lobbyist in Washington and has a seat on the board of directors for the New York Mets.

Before his time as governor, Christie was elected to the Morris County Board of Freeholders and served as U.S. attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Republican debate in Miami: Chris Christie attacks Trump