On Thursday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer grilled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on the upcoming meeting between President Obama and President-Elect Donald Trump, fretting over the “long and bitter history” between the two men.
Lauer put the onus on Trump to repair the relationship: “How about this as olive branch? Donald Trump has been one of the major purveyors of the birther movement, set to de-legitimize Obama’s presidency. Might Donald Trump apologize to the President today at the White House? Would you like to see that?”
Christie pointed out: “No, listen, I don’t think – I think that's all past us, Matt. The fact is, the President said a lot of things – I was at that Correspondents' Dinner – said a lot off things about Donald Trump at that time that clearly was attempting to de-legitimatize him. That's politics, though.”
A skeptical Lauer replied: “So it was all just politics when Donald Trump was making those comments about the President?”
Near the end of the interview, Lauer urged Trump to forget about investigating Hillary Clinton: “Donald Trump praised Hillary Clinton in his speech, but in the previous weeks he said he was going to lock her up and appoint a prosecutor, special prosecutor. Does he drop that?”
During the segment, fellow co-host Savannah Guthrie cited nationwide anti-Trump protests and wondered: “I mean, it’s just a reminder that half this country, you know, feel very scared and afraid and upset. What do you think President-Elect Trump's tone toward them should be? What's his message? What's some outreach he should do?”
Here is a transcript of all the November 10 questions to Christie:
7:08 AM ET
MATT LAUER: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is chairman of Donald Trump's transition team. He joins us now exclusively. Governor, it’s nice to see you.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: Good morning, guys.
LAUER: Let's talk about this meeting at the White House today. These two guys have a long and bitter history together. What's the dynamic going to be like?
(...)
LAUER: How about this as olive branch? Donald Trump has been one of the major purveyors of the birther movement, set to de-legitimize Obama’s presidency. Might Donald Trump apologize to the President today at the White House? Would you like to see that?
CHRIS CHRISTIE: No, listen, I don’t think – I think that's all past us, Matt. The fact is, the President said a lot of things – I was at that Correspondents' Dinner – said a lot off things about Donald Trump at that time that clearly was attempting to de-legitimatize him. That's politics, though. And I think what these two men recognize is that now this is about governing and leading the nation and the world. And they have a lot more important things to talk about than slights, real or perceived, in the past.
LAUER: So it was all just politics when Donald Trump was making those comments about the President?
(...)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: You know, Chairman Reince Priebus was here yesterday. He said something he said before, that the Donald Trump he knows, the one behind closed doors, is so vastly different than the Donald Trump we have seen from that rally stage. Do you agree with that and do you think that's a – we're about to see some new side of Donald Trump?
(...)
GUTHRIE: Quickly, we saw those protests last night. I mean, it’s just a reminder that half this country, you know, feel very scared and afraid and upset. What do you think President-Elect Trump's tone toward them should be? What's his message? What's some outreach he should do?
(...)
LAUER: Paul Ryan said Donald Trump has a mandate. Even though he didn't win the popular vote, he obviously has the White House, the House, and the Senate. Do Republicans have a mandate?
CHRISTIE: Sure, absolutely.
(...)
LAUER: Let me ask you about your personal future, either inside or outside a Trump administration. The bridgegate trial ended last week, a couple of your close associates convicted on all counts. Do you think that event and that trial will cast a long shadow on you if you would like a role in the Trump administration?
(...)
LAUER: So what role do you want in a Trump administration? What have you talked about?
CHRISTIE: We have not talked about anything. It's true. The President-Elect was absolutely adamant about not discussing the transition before he was elected.
GUTHRIE: The reports are he didn't want to jinx it. Is that true?
(...)
LAUER: Would you want to be chief of staff? Would you want to be –
CHRISTIE: You don't really think I’m gonna –
GUTHRIE: That's what is called a pregnant pause, just so you know.
LAUER: Would you want to be attorney general?
CHRISTIE: You really don't think I'm answering any of these questions, do you? You know me better than that.
(...)
LAUER: Like chief of staff?
CHRISTIE: You know, maybe it's host of the Today show, Matt. Who knows? You've been around here a long time. We'll go over the contract later, we’ll see when you’re out of here.
GUTHRIE: That’s the one job the president doesn't appoint.
(...)
GUTHRIE: Trump's adult children have been a huge part of this campaign. Could you see him appointing one of his adult children either to a cabinet post or to a senior position within administration? Or does he think, “No, that’s nepotism, I'm not going there”?
(...)
LAUER: Ten seconds left. Donald Trump praised Hillary Clinton in his speech, but in the previous weeks he said he was going to lock her up and appoint a prosecutor, special prosecutor. Does he drop that?
(...)
GUTHRIE: The people wanted her to be locked up. I mean, those are his constituents.
(...)
GUTHRIE: Governor Chris Christie. Do you have an alarm clock?
CHRISTIE: Yes, I do.
GUTHRIE: Just saying, it's a part of this job.
CHRISTIE: No problem.
LAUER: You’re gonna love Halloween here. You’ll love that.
[LAUGHTER]
CHRISTIE: You mean I could look stranger, Matt. Is that what you’re talking about? Good, looking forward to it.
LAUER: Thank you, Governor.
GUTHRIE: Thank you for your time sir, appreciate it.
CHRISTIE: Thank you both.
