New Jersey

Phil Murphy Poses With Cutout of Chris Christie Lounging on Beach

What to Know

  • Gov.-elect Phil Murphy posed with a cardboard cutout of Gov. Chris Christie on a beach over the summer
  • Murphy was at an event hosted by the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, an organization that supported him during his campaign
  • Christie came under fire last summer after photos emerged of him on a beach outing while state parks were closed for a government shutdown

New Jersey governor-elect Phil Murphy posed for photos with a cardboard cutout of Chris Christie lounging on a beach last summer.

Murphy was at a gala hosted by the New Jersey Working Families Alliance Thursday night when he posed with the cutout brought out by organizers. 

While on a diplomatic trip to Puerto Rico on Friday, Murphy told NJ Advance Media that he was standing near the cutout at the event and "couldn't resist."

Christie came under intense criticism after he was photographed with his family on a beach closed to the public over the Fourth of July weekend because of a government shutdown. 

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Murphy got some pushback for posing with the cutout. Christie himself responded to the cutout after an event in Newark on Friday, according to NorthJersey.com.

"I think someone's got to remind him that the campaign is over," Christie reportedly said, calling it "disappointing because we've been so open and so welcoming to him."

NBC 4 has reached out to Christie's office and Murphy's representative for comments. 

The Democratic governor-elect succeeds the Republican governor on Jan. 16.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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