Americans are tired of listening to the presidential candidates talking about themselves, Chris Christie said Thursday, explaining why he broke in while Donald Trump and Carly Fiorina were arguing about their business experiences during the GOP debate Wednesday night.
"I heard Carly talk about how much money she's made and lost, how much Donald's made and lost," the New Jersey governor told
CNN's "New Day" program. "Let's stick to that they're both successful business people in their own right with their own successes and failures. That does nothing for the person sitting on the other end of the camera."
He also defended himself for telling Fiorina not to interrupt him or other speakers.
"I start to speak and then Carly tried to threaten me again," Christie told CNN. "My view on her is to be courteous. Don't interrupt me and don't interrupt the other candidates."
Meanwhile, Christie said he believes moderator Jake Tapper was trying to get him fighting with Trump, but he's not going to do that.
"Donald and I are friends," he said. "I think I'll be a much better president. I'm not going to get into the back and forth like Carly did. That gives Donald, 16, 18 minutes because people want to see us fight with him. My fight is with Hillary Clinton."
In all, Christie was timed as having spoke for only seven minutes during the three hour debate, but told CNN Thursday that he's always been "about quality over quantity ... I've never been misunderstood in my political career."
Christie has also been criticized about when he was named as U.S. Attorney, but stresses that he got the call from the White House on Sept. 10, 2001, one day before the 9/11 attacks, but took office that following January.
He also said he thought former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was right to defend his brother, former President George W. Bush, for his role in the post 9/11 world, when he drew applause for saying his brother kept the world safe.
The governor, also on
Fox News' "Fox & Friends," said Americans feel that President Barack Obama "is acting lawlessly" and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now the Democratic presidential election front-runner, became the same way.
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Christie also appeared on
MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, where in addition to discussing the Fiorina/Trump comments talked about his plans for the Iran deal, after several other candidates on the debate stage Wednesday said they'd tear up the deal.
"I think there's going to be ample evidence before the next president gets there of cheating," Christie said.
"You're going to have to go back to work to put sanctions on Iran and to make them understand that with a new president there's going to be new rules. I'll tell you this though, it is a disgrace that this president signed this agreement while there's still four Americans being held hostage."
But overall, Christie said that there will be no "whining and moaning" in his camp about the lack of time he got to speak at the debate.
"I think we did the best time we had and did great during the seven minutes and I hope I get more of it," said Christie. "I hope the folks are going to communicate to MSNBC they want to hear more from me. You know I'm ratings magic."