>> HI, I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP A CONVERSATION WITH FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE.

NEXT!

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME TO FRONT ROW GOVERNOR CHRISTIE.

THANK YOU MARC, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON JOE BIDEN'S INAUGURATION AND HIS MESSAGE TO AMERICA.

>> WELL LISTEN I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT DID EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.

I THINK THE BEST THING ABOUT THE SPEECH WAS HE DIDN'T TRY TO BE ANYBODY HE WASN'T MARC.

HE DIDN'T ASPIRE TO KENNEDY TYPE OF RHETORIC OR OBAMA TYPE RHETORIC OR REAGAN TYPE RHETORIC.

HE WAS PLAIN-SPOKEN, HE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT HE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

I THINK HE CHECKED ALL THE BOXES.

THE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT PART COMES NOW BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT UNITY.

IT'S MUCH TOUGHER TO GOVERN IN THAT WAY, AND I LIVED THAT WITH A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE IN MY YEARS AS GOVERNOR.

AND SO ALL THESE THINGS ARE VERY TOUGH, BUT I THINK THE PRESIDENT GOT OFF TO A GOOD START.

>> YOU KNOW THE NUMBER ONE AGENDA ITEM FOR HIM IS COVID-19 AND COMBATING THE PANDEMIC.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE INITIAL FEDERAL RESPONSE WAS TO THE PANDEMIC AND WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE?

>> I THINK IT WAS MIXED, I THINK THERE WAS SOME GREAT SUCCESSES.

I THINK THE PRODUCTION OF VENTILATORS, THE PRODUCTION OF PPE, AND OBVIOUSLY OPERATION WARP SPEED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTION OF VACCINES WERE ALL MAJOR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK WHERE THEY FELL DOWN WAS NOT TAKING THE EPIDEMIC AS SERIOUSLY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE RIGHT FROM THE START, AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF WHAT THEY MISSED OUT ON WAS THE SYMBOLISM THAT RAN FROM THAT AS WELL.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT NOT TO WEAR A MASK WAS A MISTAKE, I TOLD HIM THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, NOT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF WAS SO MUCH AT RISK MARC, BUT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE MEANT SOMETHING TO THE COUNTRY AND DEPOLITICIZED THAT ISSUE WHICH IT SHOULD BE IN MY VIEW.

SO I THINK IT WAS A MIXED RESPONSE.

BUT ON THE BIG THINGS I THINK THE PRESIDENT DID WELL.

VACCINES, PPE, VENTILATORS, HOSPITAL CAPACITY.

HE DID THOSE THINGS WELL AND GOT US THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THIS CRISIS.

AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S JOB TO GET US TO THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> HOW DO WE GET MORE SHOTS AND MORE ARMS OF MORE AMERICANS?

>> LET ME TELL YOU, WE SHOULD BE USING THE PRIVATE SECTOR MARC ON TO BE DOING THIS.

THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE USING FEDEX AND UPS BUT WE SHOULD BE USING AMAZON, WE SHOULD BE USING ALL OF OUR MAJOR COMPANIES OUT THERE WHO DEAL IN LOGISTICS, AND HAVE THEM WORK WITH THE STATES DIRECTLY TO DO IT.

AND I HOPE THAT WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL DO IS PUT MUCH MORE OF A FOCUS ON THIS.

YOU KNOW WE HAD A BIG RUN-UP.

THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FELL SHORT.

WE HAD A BIG RUN-UP TO THIS.

WE KNEW THE VACCINES WERE COMING, WE HAD SOME OPTIMISM OUT THERE THAT THEY'D BE READY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A MUCH MORE ROBUST PLAN, AND THERE SHOULD'VE BEEN GREATER FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT.

IN THE END, THE STATES ARE BEATEN DOWN RIGHT NOW MARC.

THEY ARE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY HAD TO DO.

AND SOME WERE, I THINK, GROSSLY OVERREACHED IN THEIR STATES IN TERMS OF CLOSING DOWN THEIR ECONOMIES.

BUT IT'S RESULTED IN THOSE STATES BEING BEATEN DOWN, AND TO THINK THAT THEY COULD DO THIS ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE SECTOR HELP AND MORE FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT WAS PROBABLY A MISTAKE.

>> AMAZON DID OFFER TO HELP PRESIDENT BIDEN DIDN'T THEY?

>> THEY DID AND HE SHOULD TAKE THEM UP ON THAT HELP.

QUITE FRANKLY THIS SHOULD BE ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT, MARC.

WE NOW HAVE THE SOLUTION TO THIS PANDEMIC, AND IT IS SINFUL TO HEAR.

THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE THROWING OUT VACCINE.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ARMS TO PUT THEM IN.

THAT'S OBSCENE IN THIS COUNTRY GIVEN WHAT EVERYONE'S GONE THROUGH AND ALL THE LIVES WE'VE LOST AND THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN IRRETRIEVABLY ALTERED, AND SO THIS HAS GOTTA BE -- I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD SUPERSTORM SANDY IN NEW JERSEY.

IT WAS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT AND I USED THE AUTHORITY OF THE OFFICE TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE RECOVERY, AND THAT'S WHY WE RECOVERED AS QUICKLY AS WE DID AND AS WELL AS WE DID.

I HOPE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S GOING TO BE THE SAME THING.

>> WILL HIS FIRST 100 DAYS BE JUDGED BY HOW HE HANDLES THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY MARC.

>> OKAY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

YOU'RE A COVID-19 SURVIVOR.

HOW DID YOU CONTRACT THAT AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> FOR 7 MONTHS.

MARC, I WORE A MASK WHENEVER I WENT OUT, I WAS PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING.

AND THEN I WENT DOWN TO PREPARE PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE FALL DEBATES.

IRAN IS DEBATE PREP THE 2016, I RAN AGAIN IN 2020.

AND WE WERE GETTING TESTED EVERY DAY WE WENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND I HAD THE WRONG IMPRESSION THAT WHEN I WALKED IN THOSE GATES I WAS SAFE FROM COVID SO I DIDN'T WEAR MASK WHEN I WAS INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE FOR 4 DAYS.

AND THAT'S WHEN I CONTRACTED THE ILLNESS.

I LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE DAY OF THE DEBATE, THAT TUESDAY, AND I WAS SICK BY FRIDAY AND IN THE HOSPITAL BY SATURDAY.

>> YOU WERE IN THE ICU FOR A WHILE WEREN'T YOU?

>> I WAS FOR 6 DAYS.

>> YOU'VE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE OF MASKS SINCE, YOU'VE GOT A PSA ABOUT THAT.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> WELL THE REASON I DID IT, MARC, WAS BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD.

YOU KNOW TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE FROM THIS VIRUS, AND THAT WHILE A MASK IS NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, WE NOW KNOW FROM STATISTICS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS THAT YOU'RE TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET COVID IF YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK THAN IF YOU DO.

AND SO TO ME, I LIKE PLAYING THE ODDS, MARC, AND THE ODDS ARE IN YOUR FAVOR IF YOU WEAR A MASK.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE GIVEN MY PUBLIC PROFILE AND HOW PUBLIC MY FIGHT WITH COVID WAS, THAT FOR ME TO COME OUT WITH A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT LIKE THAT HOPEFULLY WOULD HELP CHANGE SOME MINDS AND GET PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T WEARING MASKS TO WEAR MASKS UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS A 2 TRILLION DOLLAR COVID RELIEF PACKAGE ON THE DEAL.

YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH?

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THAT?

>> I HAVE LOOK AT IT MARC, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF IN THERE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID.

TELL ME WHAT A $15 FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE HAS TO DO WITH COVID RELIEF.

AND SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A CHRISTMAS TREE.

WHERE EVERYBODY HANGS THEIR PARTICULAR POLICY ORNAMENTS ON IT IN GETTING THROUGH.

IF THE IF THE DEMOCRATS USE THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION MECHANISM TO TRY TO DO THIS, WHERE THEY WOULD ONLY NEED THEIR 50 VOTES PLUS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, THEN THEY WILL GET IT THROUGH, BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY WILL PASS THE HOUSE.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE COULD BE A LITTLE SOBER ABOUT THIS AND SAY COVID RELIEF, ABSOLUTELY.

LET'S LET'S PINPOINT IT EVEN THESE ADDITIONAL CHECKS MARC.

I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE 2 YOUNG ADULT CHILDREN, BOTH WHO WORK, BOTH WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS DURING COVID THEY BOTH GOT CHECKS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY DON'T NEED CHECKS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

SO HOW ABOUT WE FOCUS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE AND NOT KEEP PRINTING MONEY, BECAUSE LONG TERM, UNNECESSARILY PRINTING THAT MONEY IS GONNA HURT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ON SMALL BUSINESS ON RESTAURANT OWNERS WHO ARE ALREADY HURTING?

>> DEVASTATING!

THIS IS JUST THE WRONG TIME TO DO IT.

AND YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT HOW MANY RESTAURANTS IN MY STATE, SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE CLOSED BECAUSE I THINK OUR GOVERNOR IS ONE OF THE GOVERNORS WHO DRASTICALLY OVERREACHED IN TERMS OF NOT LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION WHERE YOU COULD THREAD THE NEEDLE, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE SAFE AND HAVE SAFE PRACTICES BUT LET PEOPLE CONTINUE TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES.

IF WE NOW IMPOSE UPON THEM FURTHER REGULATION WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS.

IT'S FURTHER FEDERAL REGULATION WITH A MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

IT IS GOING TO FURTHER IT DEVASTATE BUSINESSES WHERE GOVERNMENT ALREADY HAS THEIR BOOT ON THEIR THROAT AND WE DON'T NEED TO CRUSH THEIR WINDPIPE WITH A $15 MINIMUM WAGE.

>> GOVERNOR WE'RE ALREADY AT 28 TRILLION DOLLARS AND COUNTING AND THIS WILL ADD ANOTHER TWO TRILLION TO BRING THIS TO 30 AND COUNTING.

HOW PROBLEMATIC IS THE NATIONAL DEBT AND WHEN WE DEAL WITH IT?

>> THE PROBLEM NATIONAL DEBT PROBLEMATIC.

NOW I AM NOT SOMEONE WHO OPPOSES SPENDING SMARTLY IN RESPONSE TO A PANDEMIC.

THIS IS A ONCE IN A 100 YEAR EVENT.

THE PROBLEM IS DURING MOST OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE DID NOTHING ABOUT THE DEFICIT.

IN FACT ALL WE DID WAS GROW IT, AND WE NEED AS A REPUBLICAN PARTY TO GET BACK TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE WILL BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

WE LOST AND UNFORTUNATELY DURING THE TRUMP YEARS BECAUSE HE PARTICIPATED WITH A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS AND WITH THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE IN NOT ENFORCING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE CANNOT PRINT MONEY FOREVER.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE STRONGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

>> YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVEN HAD A BALANCED BUDGET SINCE NEWT AND BILL CLINTON WERE AROUND.

LISTEN BIDEN MOVED VERY QUICKLY PRESIDENT BIDEN MOVE VERY QUICKLY WITH A SERIES OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

ONE WAS THE CLIMATE CHANGE ORDER.

IS THAT LARGELY SYMBOLIC TO REJOIN THE CLIMATE CHANGE -- TO REJOIN THE CLIMATE ACCORD?

>> IT IS SYMBOLIC BUT IT ALSO CAN HAVE SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT MARC BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD MIND US GETTING INTO A FAIR CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD AROUND THE WORLD BUT CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD THAT TREATS CHINA AS IF THEY'RE STILL DEVELOPING ECONOMY.

IT'S WHAT THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORDS YOU IS RIDICULOUS.

THEY'RE NOW THE SECOND LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE RESTRICTED BY THESE RULES, THEY SHOULD BE TOO.

AND I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM FOR ME WITH THE PARIS ACCORDS HAS BEEN THEIR FAIRNESS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA.

CHINA DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE ADVANTAGES IN THE WORLD MARKET, THEY'VE GOT PLENTY.

AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE AMERICA COMPETE WITH CHINA AND BEAT CHINA ECONOMICALLY WHICH WE WILL DO IF THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL AND PARIS DOES NOT MAKE THE PLAYING FIELD LEVEL.

>> BIDEN ALSO REVOKED THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE PERMIT.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON JOBS RIGHT NOW ISN'T IT?

>> HUGE IMPACT ON JOBS ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING ON THAT PROJECT WILL NOW LOSE THEIR JOBS.

BUT MORE THAN THAT MARC.

WE ARE FINALLY AT A PLACE WHERE AMERICA'S ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE GAS LINES OF THE 1970'S.

WE REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE THOSE COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST DOMINATE DOMINATE OUR LAWS DO EVEN GAS DAYS AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USE AMERICA'S NOW ENERGY INDEPENDENT I'M VERY VERY VERY UPSET ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD GIVE AWAY OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, AND GETTING RID OF KEYSTONE PIPELINE IS JUST ANOTHER INDICATION THAT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS NOT A PRIORITY OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THAT'S IT THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

>> IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR FREE MARKET FOLKS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN PUT PILING IN ALL THIS MONEY, OR THEY JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT?

>> THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT FOR NOW, BUT THE RECOURSE IS ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND SO 2022, WE'VE ONLY GOT A 5 VOTE DEFICIT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE'RE 50-50 IN THE SENATE, WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED AS REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES GOING FORWARD TO MAKE OUR CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS.

MY CONSERVATIVE POLICIES BY PRINCIPLES AND TAKE BACK BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS IN 2022.

AND THEN WE CAN START TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RIGHT THE SHIP.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE COMMON GROUND BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND THE ADMINISTRATION GOING FORWARD?

>> YOU KNOW I THINK THERE COULD BE SOME COMMON GROUND ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND I THINK IT COULD BE A WAY TO DO IT AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

I THINK THERE CAN BE CERTAIN COMMON GROUND IN FOREIGN POLICY, I THINK MOST AMERICANS ARE TIRED OF THE ENDLESS WARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN AND THEY WANT TO SEE OUR TROOPS COME HOME, I ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID DURING HIS TIME ONE OF THE MANY GOOD THINGS THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED WAS DEEMPHASIZING AMERICAN MILITARY INVOLVED IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD, I THINK THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ON THAT AS WELL SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME PLACES WHERE WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND AND WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING OTHER AREAS AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT'S THE MESSAGE.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SENT IN THIS ELECTION WAS IF THEY WANTED TO BRING SOME CALM BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AND ONE US TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE WHILE WE TALK ABOUT TRUMP'S LEGACY GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> I SAID TO THE PRESIDENT.

AS YOU NOTED I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR 20 YEARS.

I KNOW HIM EXTRAORDINARY WELL.

AND I WAS TELLING HIM ALL DURING HIS FOUR YEARS THAT HIS BEHAVIOR, IF HE CONTINUES TO ACT THAT WAY WAS GOING TO OBSCURE AND THEN ULTIMATELY DIMINISH HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN READ THE ELECTION RESULTS BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT A GUY WHO HAD THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG ALMOST EVERY SECTOR OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION, REDUCED REGULATION SIGNIFICANTLY, BROUGHT US THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, RUN US ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TO A LARGE EXTENT IN THIS COUNTRY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYED IN PLACE >> STOCK MARKET SOARED.

>> STOCK MARKET SOARED, JOBS SOARED, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF AMERICANS EVER EMPLOYED IN THIS COUNTRY, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT PARTS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEGACY THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE AWAY.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT HIS POST-ELECTION CONDUCT AND THE AWFUL RIOT ON CAPITOL HILL ON JANUARY 6TH NOW OBSCURES A LOT OF THAT RECORD.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THE PRESIDENT DID THAT I AGREE WITH OVER HIS TIME IN OFFICE AND I THINK THAT WHEN HISTORY TAKES A LONGER LOOK, WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS MORE OBJECTIVELY.

BUT WE AS A PARTY NOW NEED TO RECOVER POLITICALLY FOR SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE.

SO THAT OUR IDEAS DON'T GO AWAY AS WELL.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIS IMMIGRATION POLICY.

HE'S BEEN RIGHT WIDELY CRITICIZED FOR SOME OF THAT.

>> WELL, LISTEN.

AGAIN I THINK THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RHETORIC AND WHAT REALLY WENT ON.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT FOR INSTANCE, THE USMCA HIS NEW AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO, CANADA TRADE THAT MADE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BORDERING COUNTRIES SO MUCH BETTER ECONOMICALLY AND PERSONALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MOVE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE BORDER IN AN ORDERLY AND SMART FASHION.

I WAS NEVER SOMEBODY WHO THOUGHT MEXICO'S EVER GOING TO PAY FOR THE WALL.

AND SO I THINK IN THAT RESPECT THE PRESIDENT OVER PROMISED AND UNDER DELIVERED ON THAT ONE.

IN THE END WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY WORK FOR OUR ECONOMY AND FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE AN IMMIGRANT COUNTRY.

WE SHOULD BE.

MY GRANDPARENTS CAME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS MADE A LIFE THAT ALLOWED OTHER THEIR GRANDSON TO BECOME THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

SO I WANT THAT ETHIC TO CONTINUE.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND OUR AMERICAN WORKERS.

>> GOVERNOR YOU SUPPORTED THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP TELL US WHY.

>> WHAT I SUPPORTED MARC WAS I WAS ASKED WHETHER WHAT HE DID WAS AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE AND I SAID IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

I ALSO SAID THAT I THOUGHT WITH 14 DAYS LEFT IN HIS TERM, THE IDEA OF IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL SEEMS TO ME TO BE A WASTE OF TIME.

BUT I DO THINK PEOPLE NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY EVERYTHING HE'S DONE MARC IT'S NOT JUST JANUARY 6TH, HE LIED TO ANGRY AND DESPERATE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HIM AND WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THE RESULTS.

AND HE KEPT PROMISING WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD AND WE NEVER DID.

AND TO INCITE PEOPLE IN THAT WAY AGAINST OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN OUR FREE ELECTIONS, IT'S SOMETHING I THINK IS AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE WHEN COMBINED WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH, BUT, DO I THINK WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR TIME AMIDST THE COVID CRISIS WORRYING ABOUT CONVICTING A PRESIDENT WHO WAS ALREADY BEEN REMOVED?

I DON'T.

>> WELL, CONSTITUTIONALLY THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

CAN HE BE TRIED AFTER HAS BEEN REMOVED?

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK HE CAN.

>> A LOT OF DIVISION THAT MARC I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERT, BUT THE CONSTITUTION IS SILENT AS TO IT.

SO WITH THE ONE THING THE FRAMERS DID MAKE CLEAR WAS THAT IMPEACHMENT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS, NOT A LEGAL ONE.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE SENATE TO DECIDE.

DO THEY THINK THIS IS VALID OR NOT?

I WOULD GUARANTEE YOU THIS: NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT SUPREME COURT WOULDN'T TAKE IT, SAYING THAT THE FRAMERS SAID THE POLITICAL BRANCHES ARE TO DECIDE THIS AND THE POLITICAL BRANCHES SHOULD DECIDE IT, SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT AREN'T WE?

>> AS YOU LOOK AT IT WOULD BE AWFUL HARD BAR TO GET 2 THIRDS OF THE SENATE TO CONVICT HIM DON'T YOU THINK?

>> I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING YOU'RE GOING TO FIND 17 REPUBLICANS TO VOTE TO CONVICT HIM AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD THE EVIDENCE YET.

I'M A FORMER PROSECUTOR FORMER UNITED STATES ATTORNEY SO I'M A SLAVE TO THE EVIDENCE.

SO I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND WHAT THEY PRESENT.

BUT I THINK AS THE RECORD STANDS RIGHT NOW, >> IT'S UNLIKELY YOU GET 17 REPUBLICANS TO VOTE YES.

>> DO YOU SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP AS A VIABLE CANDIDATE IN 2024?

YOU THINK THERE'S JUST BEEN SO MUCH BLOWBACK FROM A LOT OF THE PARTY THAT THEY WOULDN'T PUT UP WITH IT AGAIN?

>> THERE'S 2 PARTIES IN MY VIEW WHO WILL DECIDE THAT QUESTION FIRST AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF, AND WHETHER AT 78 YEARS OLD HE WANTS TO ENGAGE IN ANOTHER CAMPAIGN.

AND THE SECOND WILL BE THE VOTERS MARC.

YOU KNOW I WAS ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WHO RAN AGAINST HIM IN 2016.

AND MANY OF US DID NOT TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY WHEN HE GOT INTO THE RACE DIDN'T THINK YOU'D BE CONSIDERED TO BE A SERIOUS CANDIDATE.

AND GUESS WHAT THE VOTERS GAVE US THE MESSAGE WHAT THEY THOUGHT.

SO I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT 2024, FIRST PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF WILL HAVE TO DECIDE IS THAT SOMETHING HE REALLY WANTS TO GET INVOLVED IN AGAIN, BUT IN TERMS OF VIABILITY IF YOU WERE TO DECIDE TO GET IN, ONLY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE DECIDE THAT I LEARNED THAT IN 2016.

IF THE VOTERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL DECIDE WHETHER HE'S VIABLE OR NOT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BIG TECH AND HOW THEY'RE HANDLING FREE SPEECH?

>> IT'S A SCANDAL.

IT'S AWFUL.

AND NO MATTER WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THAT HIS TWITTER PAGE OR NOT IT IS TO ME UNCONSCIONABLE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS SUSPENDED FROM TWITTER AND THE AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI OF IRAN HAS A TWITTER PAGE.

I'M SORRY.

HE'S EVERY DAY, KILLING HIS CITIZENS.

JAILING HIS CITIZENS.

MAIMING HIS CITIZENS AND HE HAS A TWITTER PAGE?

BUT DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT?

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE MARC, THIS SHOULD BE A UNITING ISSUE.

BECAUSE TODAY, THEY'RE KICKING A CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT OFF OF TWITTER.

TOMORROW, IT COULD BE A LIBERAL ONE IF EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS ON FREE SPEECH AND I THINK IT MEANS FOR SURE THESE COMPANIES SHOULD GET THEIR SECTION 230 LIABILITY SHIELD TAKEN AWAY.

IF THEY WANT TO MAKE EDITORIAL DECISIONS THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE UNDER OUR LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THEY REALLY WERE SET UP AS A BULLETIN BOARD AND NOW MORE LIKE A NEWSPAPER OR A TELEVISION STATION.

>> THEY'RE ACTING MUCH MORE LIKE THAT MARC.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND TO ME, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ACT THAT WAY THAT'S FINE.

IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO DO THAT IN THIS COUNTRY WITH YOUR PRIVATE BUSINESS.

BUT YOU CAN'T THEN CLAIM TO BE ENTITLED TO A LIABILITY SHIELD IF YOU'RE ACTING LIKE ANY OTHER BROADCAST OR PRINT MEDIUM, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, THEY'RE NO LONGER BULLETIN BOARD WHEN YOU START EDITING THAT WAY YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDITING THAT YOU DO.

>> GOVERNOR PUT ON YOUR CONSULTING HAT WHAT DO REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO IN YOUR VIEW AS A REPUBLICAN TO RETAKE AND APPEAL TO SUBURBAN VOTERS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE CENTRAL TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ABOUT FREEDOM AND LIBERTY ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE, GOOD EDUCATION FOR EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE STRONG DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY AND ITS BORDERS, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN THE EVIDENCE SYSTEM WHY THEY ARE WINNING ISSUES MARC, IS WE TOOK 14 SEATS BACK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE FLIPPED TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS AND WE FLIPPED THE ONLY GOVERNORSHIP THAT CHANGED IN 2020.

ALL OF THAT HAPPENED FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BENEATH THE TICKET AND QUITE FRANKLY IF WE HADN'T HAD SOME OF THE REAL CRAZINESS ABOUT ALLEGED ELECTION FRAUD, I THINK WE WOULD'VE KEPT THOSE 2 SEATS IN GEORGIA AS WELL BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION, RURAL TURNOUT IN GEORGIA WAS DOWN 15% FROM THE GENERAL ELECTION.

15%.

AND IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE ELECTIONS WERE FIXED AND THEIR VOTE DIDN'T MATTER.

SO WE HAVE SOME GOOD THINGS GOING FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON ELECTION DAY WE NEED TO BUILD ON THAT TALK ABOUT IT SMARTLY AND DIRECTLY AND HONESTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> DO YOU THINK MAIL IN BALLOTS BY AND LARGE ARE SECURE?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE STATE MARC.

YOU KNOW FOR INSTANCE IN MY STATE OF NEW JERSEY, I THINK IT WAS A TRAVESTY BECAUSE WHAT WE DID WAS, WE SENT MAIL IN BALLOTS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS REGISTERED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ASKED FOR IT OR NOT.

THAT'S A RIDICULOUS WAY TO DO IT.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT MAIL IN VOTING CAN BE SECURE AND I THINK IN SOME STATES WHO HAVE HAD IT FOR A LONG TIME WE'VE SEEN IT.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS ELECTION WAS WE CHANGED THE RULES IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE OF COVID I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU KNOW MANY STATES DID THAT BUT A LOT OF STATE DID IT THE RIGHT WAY.

STATES LIKE NEW JERSEY DID IT THE WRONG WAY AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS THE REAL FOCUS ON OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS PUT REAL REFORMS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAIL IN VOTING IS DONE IN A WAY THAT IS IS SECURE.

NOT IN A HAPHAZARD WAY THAT IT WAS DONE IN A LOT OF PLACES NOT EVERYWHERE BUT IN A LOT OF PLACES IN 2020.

>> DO WE NEED A COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO THAT AND TO ELECTION REFORM.

>> AND IF WE NEED A COMMISSION WE DO HAVE A CONGRESS THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING IN MY VIEW AND STATE LEGISLATURES.

EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 AND SAY WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK TO FIND OUT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS AGAIN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT WEEKS AND WEEKS AND WEEKS FOR CONGRESSIONAL RESULT, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT CREATES AN AIR OF LEGITIMACY.

AND WE DON'T WANT THAT SO STATE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THERE WAS SO SHOULD THE CONGRESS I DON'T THINK WE NEED A SPECIAL COMMISSION THAT'S USUALLY A DODGE BY POLITICIANS WHO DON'T WANT TO MAKE TOUGH CALLS.

>> YOU KNOW ON THE DEBATES DO WE JUST NEED THE CAMPAIGNS TO DEAL WITH EACH OTHER AND ELIMINATE THE DEBATE COMMISSION YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THE DEBATE COMMISSION AT ONE TIME WAS A GOOD IDEA.

I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY NECESSARY ANYMORE.

IT'S USUALLY IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH CAMPAIGNS ENGAGE IN THOSE DEBATES.

GIVEN THAT WE'VE HAD THEM NOW EVERY 4 YEARS SINCE 1976.

YOU KNOW I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE COME TO EXPECT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES AND WON'T PUT UP WITH A CANDIDATE WHO DOES NOT WANT TO DO THEM AND SO I THINK THAT YOU KNOW GETTING RID OF THIS COMMISSION PROBABLY MAKES SOME SENSE AND LET THE CAMPAIGNS GET BACK TO NEGOTIATING DIRECTLY WITH EACH OTHER.

AND WITH THE NETWORKS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO THESE DEBATES FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> WHAT METRICS WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR AS BIDEN GOES FORWARD IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS?

>> IT'S ALL COVID MARC AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

HOW EFFICIENT IS HE GOING TO BE AT GETTING THIS VACCINE INTO THE ARMS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND WHAT WILL HE DO TO BEGIN TO LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS ON OUR ECONOMY?

AS THOSE VACCINATIONS GO UP THE REGULATION OF OUR BUSINESSES AND RESTRICTIONS ON THIS SHOULD BE GOING DOWN.

SO THAT WHEN THOSE 2 POINTS INTERSECT THAT WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT'S REVVING BACK UP AGAIN TO HELP SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND HERD IMMUNITY WHICH WILL HELP TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE WAY HE'S GOING TO BE JUDGED BY THOSE 2 METRICS, MARC.

AND IF HE DOESN'T DO WELL, I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE UNSPARING IN THEIR CRITICISM.

>> GOVERNOR WE HAVE ABOUT 40 SECONDS LEFT FINAL THOUGHT SIR.

>> MARC, LISTEN.

I THINK THAT THE LIGHT IS AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO EACH OTHER AND WE'RE TELLING THE TRUTH TO EACH OTHER.

AND AS A REPUBLICAN, TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES IN A SMART AND HONEST WAY.

IF WE DO WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS COUNTRY RECOVER FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND GET IT BACK TO BE THE LEADING LIGHT OF DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.

>> GOVERNOR THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY WE HAVE TO ROLL THAT'S IT FOR US HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

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