He believes Trump is going to take advantage of the removal.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu took aim at the moves to exclude former President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot, warning that such actions could inadvertently cast Trump as a “victim” in the upcoming primaries.
In a CNN interview on “State of the Union,” Sununu, a Republican, criticized Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ decision to bar Trump from the state’s primary ballot due to his involvement in disputing the 2020 election results. Sununu, despite his criticism of Trump following the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, dismissed Bellows’ ruling as politically motivated.
Expressing skepticism about the ruling’s validity, Sununu highlighted the potential repercussions and labeled it as an attempt by Bellows to gain political recognition for herself. He advocated for Trump’s inclusion on all 50 states’ primary ballots and hoped for the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and overturn the decisions made in Maine and Colorado regarding Trump’s eligibility.
Sununu echoed the concerns of some Republicans, including Chris Christie, emphasizing that disqualifying Trump might empower him by painting him as a martyr in the eyes of his supporters during the primaries. He underscored the potential adverse effects of such actions, asserting that it wouldn’t be beneficial and didn’t align with fairness.
The discussion also touched upon the controversy surrounding GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s comments on the cause of the Civil War. Sununu downplayed the issue, acknowledging Haley’s prompt clarification and considering it a non-issue that was quickly resolved.
Regarding Christie’s candidacy, Sununu opined that the race primarily boiled down to a competition between Trump and Nikki Haley, implying that Christie’s candidacy didn’t hold significant weight. He suggested that Christie’s continued participation might potentially split Haley’s support base, urging Christie to make a thoughtful decision regarding his future in the race.
In response to Sununu’s comments, Christie’s spokesman emphasized the significance of truthfulness and the ability to address fundamental questions, underscoring their importance in addressing larger challenges.
