Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie appeared Sunday on ABC This Week and faulted Republican messaging aimed at holding congressional majorities.

He singled out House Republican leader Tom Emmer for recent talking points that treated oil purchases from Russia as acceptable despite its war on Ukraine, insisted voters simply fail to see a strong economy while facing high food and fuel costs, and treated televised federal executions as unobjectionable.

Christie said Emmer knows those lines are weak yet still feels he must back every remark by Donald Trump to keep a leadership post, which Christie called damaging to Republicans who care about policy. He added that voters no longer accept even the most reckless claims from Trump.