Let Me Finish : Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the outspoken former governor, an "explosive" (Guardian) "must read" (Hugh Hewitt) account of Chris Christie's life in politics including his eye-opening insights into Donald Trump -- "you will like the stories he tells" (Brian Kilmeade). After dropping out of the 2016 presidential race, Chris Christie stunned the political world by becoming the first major official to endorse Donald Trump. A friend of Trump's for fifteen years, the two-term New Jersey governor understood the future president as well as anyone in the political arena--and Christie quickly became one of Trump's most trusted advisers. Tapped with running Trump's transition team, Christie was nearly named his running mate. But within days of Trump's surprise victory over Hillary Clinton, Christie was in for his own surprise: he was being booted out. In Let Me Finish, Christie sets the record straight about his tenure as a corruption-fighting prosecutor and a Republican running a Democratic state, as well as what really happened on the 2016 campaign trail and inside Trump Tower. Christie takes readers inside the ego-driven battles for Trump's attention among figures like Steve Bannon, Corey Lewandowksi, Reince Priebus, Kellyanne Conway, Jeff Sessions, and Paul Manafort. He shows how the literal trashing of Christie's transition plan put the new administration in the hands of self-serving amateurs, all but guaranteeing the Trump presidency's shaky start. Christie also addresses hot-button issues from his own years in power, including what really went down during Bridgegate. And, for the first time, Christie tells the full story of the Kushner saga: how, as a federal prosecutor, Christie put Jared Kushner's powerful father behind bars--a fact Trump's son-in-law makes Christie pay for later. Packed with news-making revelations and told with the kind of bluntness few politicians can match, Christie's memoir is an essential guide to understanding the Trump presidency. From The Outspoken Former Governor, A No-holds-barred Account Of Chris Christie's Rise To Power Through The Bare-knuckle Politics Of New Jersey And His Frank, Startling Insights About Donald Trump From Inside The President's Inner Circle. After Dropping Out Of The 2016 Presidential Race, Chris Christie Stunned The Political World By Becoming The First Major Official To Endorse Donald Trump. A Friend Of Trump's For Fifteen Years, The Two-term New Jersey Governor Understood The Future President As Well As Anyone In The Political Arena--and Christie Quickly Became One Of Trump's Most Trusted Advisers. Tapped With Running Trump's Transition Team, Christie Was Nearly Named His Running Mate. But Within Days Of Trump's Surprise Victory Over Hillary Clinton, Christie Was In For His Own Surprise: He Was Being Booted Out. In Let Me Finish, Christie Sets The Record Straight About His Tenure As A Corruption-fighting Prosecutor And A Republican Running A Democratic State, As Well As What Really Happened On The 2016 Campaign Trail And Inside Trump Tower. Christie Takes Readers Inside The Ego-driven Battles For Trump's Attention Among Figures Like Steve Bannon, Corey Lewandowksi, Reince Priebus, Kellyanne Conway, Jeff Sessions, And Paul Manafort. He Shows How The Literal Trashing Of Christie's Transition Plan Put The New Administration In The Hands Of Self-serving Amateurs, All But Guaranteeing The Trump Presidency's Shaky Start. Christie Also Addresses Hot-button Issues From His Own Years In Power, Including What Really Went Down During Bridgegate. And, For The First Time, Christie Tells The Full Story Of The Kushner Saga: How, As A Federal Prosecutor, Christie Put Jared Kushner's Powerful Father Behind Bars--a Fact Trump's Son-in-law Makes Christie Pay For Later. Packed With News-making Revelations And Told With The Kind Of Bluntness Few Politicians Can Match, Christie's Memoir Is An Essential Guide To Understanding The Trump Presidency.--dust Jacket. Introduction: Bannon Blinks -- Part One: Becoming Chris. Family Values ; Jersey Boy ; Learning Curve ; Hurry Up -- Part Two: Corruption Fighter. Law Man ; Summer Chaos ; Family Feud -- Part Three: Tough Guy. Minority Party ; Youtube Governor ; Blown Away ; Heavy Stuff ; Red Landslide ; Jammed Up ; Slow Walk -- Part Four: Campaign Trail. It's Showtime ; Team Donald ; Peer Review ; Jared's Meltdown ; Self-inflicted ; Right Way ; Veep Stakes ; Unconventional Wisdom ; It's Debatable ; Hot Mic -- Part Five: President Trump. Believe It ; No Thanks ; Mr. President ; Opioid Beach ; Price Paid. Chris Christie ; With Ellis Henican. Co-author Named On Dust Jacket But Not Title Page. Includes Index. The instant New York Times -bestselling memoir from the outspoken current Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey governor—an "explosive" ( Guardian ) "must read" (Hugh Hewitt) account of Chris Christie's life in politics including his "not to miss" ( Entertainment Weekly ) insights into Donald Trump. After dropping out of the 2016 presidential race, Chris Christie stunned the political world by becoming the first major official to endorse Donald Trump. A friend of Trump's for fifteen years, the two-term New Jersey governor understood the future president as well as anyone in the political arena—and Christie quickly became one of Trump's most trusted advisers. Tapped with running Trump's transition team, Christie was nearly named his running mate. But within days of Trump's surprise victory over Hillary Clinton, Christie was in for his own surprise: he was being booted out. In Let Me Finish , Christie sets the record straight about his tenure as a corruption-fighting prosecutor and a Republican running a Democratic state, as well as what really happened on the 2016 campaign trail and inside Trump Tower. Christie takes readers inside the ego-driven battles for Trump's attention among figures like Steve Bannon, Corey Lewandowksi, Reince Priebus, Kellyanne Conway, Jeff Sessions, and Paul Manafort. He shows how the literal trashing of Christie's transition plan put the new administration in the hands of self-serving amateurs, all but guaranteeing the Trump presidency's shaky start. Christie also addresses hot-button issues from his own years in power, including what really went down during Bridgegate. And, for the first time, Christie tells the full story of the Kushner saga: how, as a federal prosecutor, Christie put Jared Kushner's powerful father behind bars—a fact Trump's son-in-law makes Christie pay for later. Packed with news-making revelations and told with the kind of bluntness few politicians can match, Christie's memoir is an essential guide to understanding the Trump presidency. "From the outspoken former governor, a no-holds-barred account of Chris Christie's rise to power through the bare-knuckle politics of New Jersey and his frank, startling insights about Donald Trump from inside the president's inner circle. After dropping out of the 2016 presidential race, Chris Christie stunned the political world by becoming the first major official to endorse Donald Trump. A friend of Trump's for fifteen years, the two-term New Jersey governor understood the future president as well as anyone in the political arena -- and Christie quickly became one of Trump's most trusted advisers. Tapped with running Trump's transition team, Christie was nearly named his running mate. But within days of Trump's surprise victory over Hillary Clinton, Christie was in for his own surprise: he was being booted out. In Let Me Finish, Christie sets the record straight about his tenure as a corruption-fighting prosecutor and a Republican running a Democratic state, as well as what really happened on the 2016 campaign trail and inside Trump Tower. Christie takes readers inside the ego-driven battles for Trump's attention among figures like Steve Bannon, Corey Lewandowksi, Reince Priebus, Kellyanne Conway, Jeff Sessions, and Paul Manafort. He shows how the literal trashing of Christie's transition plan put the new administration in the hands of self-serving amateurs, all but guaranteeing the Trump presidency's shaky start. Christie also addresses hot-button issues from his own years in power, including what really went down during Bridgegate. And, for the first time, Christie tells the full story of the Kushner saga: how, as a federal prosecutor, Christie put Jared Kushner's powerful father behind bars -- a fact Trump's son-in-law makes Christie pay for later. Packed with news-making revelations and told with the kind of bluntness few politicians can match, Christie's memoir is an essential guide to understanding the Trump presidency."--Dust jacket "From the outspoken former governor, a no-holds-barred account of Chris Christie's rise to power through the bare -knuckle politics of New Jersey and his frank, startling insights about Donald Trump from inside the president's inner circle. After dropping out of the 2016 presidential race, Chris Christie stunned the political world by becoming the first major official to endorse Donald Trump. A friend of Trump's for fifteen years, the two-term New Jersey governor understood the future president as well as anyone in the political arena--and Christie quickly became one of Trump's most trusted advisers.Tapped with running Trump's transition team, Christie was nearly named his running mate. But within days of Trump's surprise victory over Hillary Clinton, Christie was in for his own surprise : he was being booted out. In Let Me Finish, Christie sets the record straight about his tenure as a corruption-fighting prosecutor and a Republican running a Democratic state, as well as what really happened on the 2016 campaign trail and inside Trump Tower. Christie takes readers inside the ego-driven battles for Trump's attention among figures like Steve Bannon, Corey Lewandowksi, Reince Priebus, Kellyanne Conway, Jeff Sessions, and Paul Manafort. He shows how the literal trashing of Christie's transition plan put the new administration in the hands of self-serving amateurs, all but guaranteeing the Trump presidency's shaky start. Christie also addresses hot-button issues from his own years in power, including what really went down during Bridgegate. And, for the first time, Christie tells the full story of the Kushner saga: how, as a federal prosecutor, Christie put Jared Kushner's powerful father behind bars--a fact Trump's son-in-law makes Christie pay for later. Packed with news-making revelations and told with the kind of bluntness few politicians can match, Christie's memoir is an essential guide to understanding the Trump presidency."--Dust jacket TITLE PAGE......Page 2 COPYRIGHT......Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS......Page 5 DEDICATION......Page 7 INTRODUCTION: BANNON BLINKS......Page 8 PART ONE: BECOMING CHRIS......Page 16 1. FAMILY VALUES......Page 17 2. JERSEY BOY......Page 25 3. LEARNING CURVE......Page 31 4. HURRY UP......Page 41 PART TWO: CORRUPTION FIGHTER......Page 51 5. LAW MAN......Page 52 6. SUMMER CHAOS......Page 62 7. FAMILY FEUD......Page 70 PART THREE: TOUGH GUV......Page 80 8. MINORITY PARTY......Page 81 9. YOUTUBE GOVERNOR......Page 91 10. BLOWN AWAY......Page 103 11. HEAVY STUFF......Page 114 12. RED LANDSLIDE......Page 121 13. JAMMED UP......Page 126 14. SLOW WALK......Page 136 PART FOUR: CAMPAIGN TRAIL......Page 143 15. IT’S SHOWTIME......Page 144 16. TEAM DONALD......Page 157 17. PEER REVIEW......Page 167 18. JARED’S MELTDOWN......Page 177 19. SELF-INFLICTED......Page 187 20. RIGHT WAY......Page 195 21. VEEP STAKES......Page 202 22. UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM......Page 212 23. IT’S DEBATABLE......Page 221 24. HOT MIC......Page 232 PART FIVE: PRESIDENT TRUMP......Page 242 25. BELIEVE IT......Page 243 26. NO THANKS......Page 254 27. MR. PRESIDENT......Page 263 28. OPIOID BEACH......Page 273 29. PRICE PAID......Page 280 EPILOGUE......Page 289 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 293 NEWSLETTERS......Page 297 Christie provides a no-holds-barred account of his rise to power through the bare-knuckle politics of New Jersey and his frank, startling insights about Donald Trump from inside the president's inner circle. After dropping out of the 2016 presidential race, Christie became the first major official to endorse Donald Trump. A friend of Trump's for fifteen years, the two-term New Jersey governor understood the future president as well as anyone in the political arena-- and quickly became one of Trump's most trusted advisers. But within days of Trump's surprise victory over Hillary Clinton, Christie was being booted out. Here he takes readers inside the ego-driven battles for Trump's attention, as well as hot-button issues from his own years in power. -- adapted from jacket The controversial former governor and presidential candidate traces his rise to power through the bare-knuckle politics of New Jersey, describes his long friendship with Donald Trump, and shares insights into the current administration