Chris Christie on Donald Trump's claim that Muslims in New Jersey celebrated 9/11 attacks: "It didn't happen."
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— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 30, 2015
Donald Trump’s claim that Muslim Americans celebrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks is wrong, Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) said Monday.
“It didn’t happen,” he told ABC News when asked about Trump’s claims. “The fact is that people can say anything [but] the facts are the facts.
{mosads}“This did not happen in New Jersey that day and it hasn’t happened since,” the Republican White House hopeful added.
Christie initially said he could not recall Muslim Americans in New Jersey cheering the fall of the World Trade Center, after front-runner candidate Trump injected the issue into the Republican presidential race.
“I do not remember that, and so it’s not something that was part of my recollection,” Christie said on Nov. 23.
“It was a pretty emotional time for me because, as I’ve mentioned before, there’s family involved, there were, you know, friends involved and it was a pretty harrowing time.”
Trump on Monday mocked Christie for his initial response to the controversy.
“He was very weak the other day,” he said of the New Jersey governor’s initial response. “The other day, he said it like, ‘well, he doesn’t know.’ “
“Now I guess he feels a little emboldened,” Trump added of Christie. “He must be careful with what he says.”
Christie criticized the media Monday for implying he played it safe by not immediately rejecting Trump’s version of events.
“I said I didn’t remember it — that’s how I put it that day,” he said.
“If it had happened, I’m pretty sure I would have remembered it. That wasn’t me trying to hedge anything.
“That was me telling the truth — I don’t remember it happening,” he added. “If you’d like me to say it another way, I’ll say it another way — it didn’t happen.”
Trump, meanwhile, is not backing down from his recollection despite multiple reports disputing the accuracy of his claim.
“I saw it,” he insisted of the footage on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And so, why would I take it back? I’m not going to take it back.”
Trump has repeatedly cited a 2001 Washington Post article that referenced unverified reports that Muslim Americans in New Jersey applauded the 9/11 attacks.
His campaign says it is hunting for more evidence.
– This story was updated at 4:25 p.m.