Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of political opportunism, arguing that his recent actions following Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections appear aimed at positioning himself for a future presidential campaign rather than reflecting consistent political principles.

Speaking by phone with New Hampshire radio host Chris Ryan, Christie criticized DeSantis for what he described as a sudden shift in political positioning after President Donald Trump and Republicans suffered major setbacks in last week's elections.

"He wakes up after Donald Trump is trounced a week ago and all of a sudden, he's got religion," Christie said. "I gotta tell you. That looks more like opportunism than it looks like principle."

Christie argued that Republicans should prioritize electing leaders who demonstrate consistency in their beliefs rather than politicians who adjust their positions based on changing political circumstances.

He also suggested DeSantis was attempting to establish himself as a candidate for the Trump-aligned Republican base, describing his political positioning as an effort to compete for the “MAGA lane” and the “Trump adjacent lane.”

"And so I don't think you can put him in the category of anything other than running for that MAGA lane, the Trump adjacent lane," Christie said.

The criticism comes as Republicans begin assessing the party's direction following their midterm losses and potential contenders position themselves ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Christie, who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024, has remained a vocal critic of the president and other Republicans he views as politically aligned with him.