On August 24, 2025, President Donald Trump reignited a political firestorm by suggesting that former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie could face a renewed criminal investigation over the infamous 2013 “Bridgegate” scandal. The threat, delivered via Trump’s Truth Social account, came just hours after Christie appeared on ABC News’ “This Week,” where he sharply criticized Trump’s approach to the Justice Department and the separation between politics and law enforcement. The public spat marks the latest chapter in the long and tumultuous relationship between the two prominent Republicans, whose alliance has given way to open rivalry.
Trump’s message, posted late Sunday, was blunt and personal. “Can anyone believe anything that Sloppy Chris says?” the president wrote, referencing Christie’s television appearance earlier in the day. Trump continued, “Do you remember the way he lied about the dangerous and deadly closure of the George Washington Bridge in order to stay out of prison, at the same time sacrificing people who worked for him, including a young mother, who spent years trying to fight off the vicious charges against her.” He added, “Chris refused to take responsibility for these criminal acts. For the sake of JUSTICE, perhaps we should start looking at that very serious situation again? NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!” (USA TODAY, Axios, Nexstar Media)
The “Bridgegate” scandal, which erupted in 2013, involved the closure of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge—the busiest bridge in the world—causing days of gridlock in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The move was orchestrated by two senior Christie aides, allegedly as political payback against Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie’s reelection bid. The resulting traffic jams infuriated commuters, endangered public safety, and ultimately tarnished Christie’s reputation on the national stage. As reported by Nexstar Media, two of Christie’s allies were convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in the scheme, facing charges that included conspiracy, fraud, and deprivation of civil rights.
Despite the scandal’s fallout, Christie himself was never charged. Prosecutors stated they could not prove criminal misconduct “beyond a reasonable doubt” or establish that Christie had direct knowledge of the lane closures. Throughout the ordeal, Christie maintained his innocence, repeatedly denying any prior knowledge or involvement in the plan. The scandal, however, cast a long shadow over his political ambitions, contributing to the collapse of his 2016 presidential campaign.
The legal saga reached its climax in 2020 when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned the convictions of Christie’s aides. While the justices acknowledged the scheme was steeped in deception and abuse of power, they concluded it did not violate federal law. At the time, Trump, then president and still an ally of Christie, hailed the decision as “a complete and total exoneration” for Christie and all others involved, denouncing what he called “grave misconduct by the Obama Justice Department.” Christie echoed these sentiments, describing the court’s ruling as “a welcome rebuke to an overzealous federal prosecutor.” In his words, “This case was driven by a U.S. Attorney and Justice Department in search of a predetermined and biased outcome. In recklessly pursuing that outcome, they violated the oath sworn by every member of the Department of Justice.” (Nexstar Media, Axios)
The August 2025 flare-up was triggered by Christie’s pointed remarks on ABC’s “This Week.” Addressing recent FBI raids on former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s home and office, Christie accused Trump of using the Justice Department as a personal tool rather than respecting its independence. “Donald Trump sees himself as the person who gets to decide everything, and he doesn’t care about any separation,” Christie told host Jonathan Karl. “In fact, he absolutely rejects the idea that there should be separation between criminal investigations and the politically elected leader of the United States. This is much different than it’s ever been run before.” (The New York Times)
Christie went further, suggesting Trump had signaled this approach during the 2024 campaign. “He told you he was going to do this, that he was going to have a Justice Department that acted as his personal legal representation, and that is what they’re doing,” Christie said. The former governor also criticized Trump for what he saw as hypocrisy regarding the handling of classified information, referencing the FBI’s search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in 2022 and contrasting it with the scrutiny directed at Bolton.
The exchange between Trump and Christie is emblematic of the broader tensions within the Republican Party. Once close allies—Christie led Trump’s 2016 presidential transition team and helped with debate preparations in 2020—the two have since become fierce adversaries. Christie emerged as Trump’s most vocal critic during the 2024 Republican primary, often standing alone among major candidates in his willingness to directly challenge the former president. Their falling out was further complicated by personal history: Christie, as a federal prosecutor, led the case that resulted in the 2005 conviction of Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump later pardoned Charles Kushner in 2020 and appointed him ambassador to France in 2025. (The New York Times)
In the wake of Trump’s renewed threat, many observers noted the pattern of political retribution. The call for a fresh “Bridgegate” investigation came just days after the FBI searched John Bolton’s properties, another Trump critic, as part of an ongoing inquiry into the handling of sensitive national security information. Critics argue these actions blur the crucial line separating law enforcement from political vendettas, a principle that has long underpinned the American justice system. As The New York Times observed, “the president’s campaign of retribution has undercut the principle that law enforcement should keep a distance from politics.”
Christie, for his part, has not shied away from criticizing Trump’s approach to justice and governance. On ABC, he also cast doubt on the credibility of Ghislaine Maxwell’s comments about Trump, noting that Maxwell, convicted of sex trafficking minors and serving a 20-year sentence, “might as well have taken out Donald Trump, or President Trump, and said, ‘The man who can pardon me has never done anything wrong. The man who can pardon me has always been wonderful.’” Still, Christie clarified that he did not believe Trump had done anything “untoward or illegal” in relation to the Epstein case. (Axios, USA TODAY)
As the dust settles, the prospect of a renewed “Bridgegate” probe remains uncertain. Legal experts note that the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision makes fresh federal charges exceedingly unlikely. Yet, the episode underscores the enduring volatility of American politics in 2025, where old scandals can be revived in the heat of new rivalries—and where the boundaries between justice and politics are as contested as ever.
For both Trump and Christie, the battle lines are clear, and the stakes—political, legal, and personal—could hardly be higher.
