The fallout from an FBI raid on former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s home has sparked a new war of words — this time between President Donald Trump and his former ally, ex–New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
What began as a Sunday morning TV appearance by Christie quickly turned into a fiery exchange, with Trump accusing his once-friend of “criminal acts” and hinting that Christie could be investigated himself.
Christie Criticizes Trump Over Bolton Raid
Christie appeared on ABC News’ This Week to weigh in on the FBI’s early morning raid of Bolton’s Maryland home.
While acknowledging that there was likely “probable cause” to justify the search, Christie accused Trump of hypocrisy, saying the former president didn’t apply the same rules to himself when it came to handling classified documents.
“I think it’s kind of funny to hear the president talk the way he does about Bolton and classified information,” Christie remarked.
“Yet when he had classified information, the same rules didn’t apply.”
Trump Fires Back with Harsh Accusations
Trump wasted no time hitting back. In a Truth Social post, he mocked Christie with one of his trademark nicknames, calling him “Sloppy Chris” and slamming ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos as “George Slopadopolus.”
“Can anyone believe anything that Sloppy Chris says?” Trump wrote, before reviving memories of the infamous Bridgegate scandal that tarnished Christie’s governorship.
Trump accused Christie of lying about the politically motivated lane closures on the George Washington Bridge in 2013 and suggested he should be investigated again.
“For the sake of JUSTICE, perhaps we should start looking at that very serious situation again? NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!” Trump declared.
A Bitter History Between Trump and Christie
The Bridgegate scandal still looms over Christie’s political career.
Back in 2013, some of his top aides created massive traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge as retribution against a local mayor who refused to endorse him.
Christie denied direct involvement, but the controversy derailed his presidential ambitions.
Trump is now using that scandal to question Christie’s credibility and paint him as untrustworthy, even as Christie continues to position himself as a vocal critic of Trump’s leadership style.
Inside the Bolton Raid
The raid that sparked the feud unfolded early Friday morning at Bolton’s Bethesda, Maryland, home — one of the wealthiest suburbs in the country.
More than a dozen FBI agents arrived at 7 a.m., carrying boxes in and out of the residence while others searched his D.C. office.
Bolton, who was home at the time, wasn’t immediately seen.
Instead, cameras caught his wife, Gretchen Smith Bolton, looking visibly shaken as she spoke with federal agents at the front door.
She later stepped aside as agents entered the house.
Hours later, Bolton returned home, waved to cameras, but refused to comment publicly.
Why Bolton Is Under Scrutiny Again
According to reports, the FBI raid was ordered by Director Kash Patel as part of a revived probe into Bolton.
The investigation focuses on allegations that Bolton sent sensitive national security documents to his wife and daughter from his work account just before Trump fired him in 2019.
The Biden administration had paused the investigation, but it appears to be back in motion — and Bolton is once again under the microscope.
Trump Compares Raid to His Own
From the Oval Office, Trump distanced himself from the decision to raid Bolton’s home but couldn’t resist drawing comparisons to his own high-profile FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.
“My house was raided also… So I know the feeling.
It’s not a good feeling,” Trump said, while emphasizing that he has never been a fan of Bolton, one of his fiercest critics since leaving the White House.
Protests Erupt Outside Bolton’s Home
As the raid unfolded, protesters gathered outside, many affiliated with the anti-Trump group #NoKings.
While they held signs accusing Trump of using the FBI for revenge, some acknowledged that defending Bolton wasn’t about agreeing with his politics — it was about resisting what they see as Trump’s misuse of power.
Echoes of Past Political Scandals
The Bolton raid and the fiery Trump-Christie exchange bring back echoes of earlier political controversies, from Hillary Clinton’s private email investigation to Bridgegate.
The storyline feels familiar: accusations of hypocrisy, questions about justice, and fierce battles within the Republican Party.
