Christie taunts Trump for absence: ‘Donald Duck’

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie taunted former president Donald Trump for being absent at Wednesday night’s debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

“You’re not here tonight,” Christie said, addressing Trump, “because you’re afraid of being on the stage and defending your record. You’re ducking these things. And let me tell you what’s going to happen. You keep doing that, no one up here is gonna call you Donald Trump anymore. We’re gonna call you Donald Duck.”

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Christie addressed Trump in the context of rising crime across urban, suburban, and rural areas of the country.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

“Donald Trump should be here to answer for that, but he’s not,” said Christie.

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The former president is ranking in the lead across the majority of polls and has said his status as front-runner is a reason he has declined to participate in the Republican primary debates.

Among the candidates on the debate stage, Christie is ranked third to last in the polls.