Chris Christie caught on hot mic saying Nikki Haley will 'get smoked' and calling Ron DeSantis 'petrified' before announcing he will drop out

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was caught on hot mic moments before his dramatic announcment to drop out of the 2024 presidential race Christie said of rival Nikki Haley 'she's going to get smoked' and 'she's not up to this' He revealed that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called him 'petrified,' adding that he believed former President Donald Trump would win the Iowa caucuses 

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was caught on hot mic talking trash about 2024 hopefuls Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley moments before dropping out of the presidential race Wednesday evening.

At a New Hampshire town hall, Christie told an audience that ‘it’s clear to me that there isn’t a path’ to the Republican nomination, ‘which is why I’m suspending my campaign for president of the United States.’

The livestream on his campaign website carried a conversation Christie was having backstage before his dramatic announcement.

Christie is heard commenting that Haley spent $68 million on her campaign, while DeSantis spent $59, while the former New Jersey governor had just spent $12 million, noting that he was the one ‘punching above their weight.’

‘And she’s going to get smoked, and you and I both know this, she’s not up to this,’ Christie is heard saying about Haley.

He also revealed that DeSantis called him ‘petrified,’ adding that he believed former President Donald Trump was going to win Iowa.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was caught on hot mic talking trash about 2024 hopefuls Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley moments before dropping out of the presidential race

A man is heard commenting to Christie that Haley is 20 points behind Trump in New Hampshire, then asking the governor if he believed Trump would win Iowa.

‘Yes,’ Christie replied before revealing his phone conversation with the Florida governor.

The man then said that he expected DeSantis to drop out of the 2024 race after Monday’s Iowa caucuses.

The video clip then cut out.

Christie didn’t make Wednesday night’s CNN debate in Iowa, as he had placed all his hope in the presidential race on performing well in New Hampshire, which holds the nation’s first primary, slated for January 23.