.@AndyMills_NJ gets pics of Christie lounging on a state beach closed to the public during government shutdown https://t.co/FVfC5jkCdQ pic.twitter.com/kO1tDjOYM1
— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) July 2, 2017
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is getting skewered by thousands of American citizens after pictures have been released of him lounging on a beach with his friends and family. No big deal, huh? Well, Christie was spotted on the state-owned Island Beach State Park less than one day after ordering state parks and beaches to close as a result of a budget stalemate. He and his party were the only ones on the entire beach. Just awful optics, especially for someone whose been accused of closing down public property for personal gain.
It was taken early Sunday afternoon before the governor headed to Trenton to hold another news conference about the shutdown. He didn’t do himself any favors by blatantly lying after he was asked if he got any sun on Sunday.
“I didn’t,” he said. “I didn’t get any sun today.”
When later told of the photo, Brian Murray, the governor’s spokesman, said: “Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office.”
“He did not get any sun,” Murray added. “He had a baseball hat on.”
As you can imagine, the general public wasn’t too pleased with Christie.
Sure, @ChrisChristie. Let's shut down NJ during one of the busiest tourist weekends. Thanks from all of us at the Shore. #njshutdown pic.twitter.com/FSi3KzsXNG
— The Shady Dame from Seville (@Brigid_Fitch) July 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/darth/status/881727197123272704
https://twitter.com/JohnFugelsang/status/881722245231632386
Time for some traffic problems! #NewJersey #ChrisChristie pic.twitter.com/30TiS9G9Xo
— Mr. Newberger (@jeremynewberger) July 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/brandojerg/status/881736676812349440
This would be a bad picture if Chris Christie hadn't closed the beach to everyone else and lied about getting some sun. pic.twitter.com/sViTpjshJi
— Sam Roberts (@notsam) July 3, 2017
We don't just take away healthcare from the American people, we take away the beaches too. Happy 4th of July from the GOP. #ChrisChristie pic.twitter.com/fEMIhhMEL6
— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) July 3, 2017
Worst episode of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND ever. #ChrisChristie pic.twitter.com/1er7GwX1Ko
— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) July 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/NellSco/status/881718964149243904
https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/881859508347305984