Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is considering another presidential campaign in 2028, arguing that Republicans need a new direction following the party's major setbacks in the midterm elections.

In an interview with Politico Wednesday, Christie said he believes he is better positioned than other potential Republican candidates, including Vice President JD Vance, because he has spent Trump's second term openly criticizing the president rather than defending his administration.

Christie specifically challenged Vance's explanation for the GOP's election losses, after the vice president blamed the results largely on the war with Iran in a statement posted Wednesday.

"The vice president to me has no credibility. He's been sitting in the White House now for the last two years," Christie told Politico. "[I] haven't heard him say a negative word, you know, until this past Wednesday, and he limited it just to the war in Iran, which is not the only problem we have here."

The former governor, who previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and 2024, said he expects to decide within the next several months whether to enter the 2028 race.

Christie has long been one of Trump's most outspoken Republican critics. During his 2024 campaign, he urged the party to reject another Trump nomination and argued that Republicans needed to turn toward different leadership. He ultimately suspended his campaign without endorsing another candidate.

"The Trump era is over," Christie told Politico. "We need to look forward to new leadership in our party and our country."

His comments come as Republicans debate the causes of their midterm losses and whether the party should continue closely aligning itself with Trump's political agenda. Several prominent Republicans have begun publicly criticizing aspects of the party's approach, while potential 2028 contenders are already positioning themselves for the next presidential contest.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has generally supported Trump, described the midterm results as a "rebuke" of the president. Christie also criticized DeSantis during his interview, questioning the governor's motives for speaking out.

"I think the governor is getting ready to leave office, and he's looking for a way to be relevant," Christie said. "And I think he looks like he's talking out of both sides of his mouth."

Other Republican officials have focused their criticism on the party's economic messaging. Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have urged Republicans to pay greater attention to cost-of-living concerns after Democrats made significant gains in their state during Tuesday's elections. Cruz, who also ran for president, is among the Republicans whose names have surfaced in discussions about the 2028 nomination.

The growing debate over the party's future comes as Republicans assess the political consequences of losing congressional majorities and consider how to approach the next presidential cycle.

Trump himself announced his 2024 presidential campaign shortly after the 2022 midterm elections, setting an early timeline for the Republican nomination contest. Christie has not committed to a 2028 bid, but his latest comments make clear that he intends to remain involved in the debate over the party's direction.