What to Know
- Gov. Christie was photographed with his family on a beach shut down to the public amid New Jersey's government shutdown earlier this month
- He faced immediate backlash but consistently defended the outing
- On his radio show, the governor said the backlash hurt his children "more than anything else" since he's been in office
Gov. Chris Christie says President Donald Trump has a standing offer to stay at the state-owned beach house that Christie was sharply criticized for using during a state government shutdown.
The Republican governor made the comment Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" show.
Christie is a close political ally of Trump, who arrived in New Jersey on Friday afternoon for a 17-day trip to his private golf club in Bedminster.
Christie said the president is welcome "anytime he wants" at the residence at Island Beach State Park. But it's not clear if Trump plans to take him up on the offer.
Christie made international headlines after he was photographed enjoying the beach with his family while the park was shuttered during the three-day shutdown in July.
What talent! A "topical" sand sculpture on the Seaside Heights beach today. (Photo: Dave Bobal) pic.twitter.com/RGrRjpi4D9
— JSHN (@JSHurricaneNews) July 4, 2017
Inspiration in SeasideHeights from @GovChristie stay at a closed state park beach house during budget crisis @NBCNewYork @JSHurricaneNews pic.twitter.com/MViaOTlDrh
— Brian Thompson (@brian4NY) July 4, 2017
