Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has a blunt message for his fellow Republicans: ditch President Donald Trump or sink with him. In a post on X Monday, Christie wrote, "Republicans have a decision to make: distance themselves from this president, or go down with him. And this is the first time he's going to have to confront that."

Speaking to ABC News, Christie pointed to recent polling data that he says should terrify the party. He cited a Fox News poll showing Trump struggling on key issues like the economy, Iran, and inflation. "The bigger problem in these swing districts for the House and these swing states in the Senate is what's going on with independents," Christie said. "Those are deadly numbers."

Christie argued that Republican candidates in competitive races could be dragged down by association with an unpopular president. "Either they're going to go down with him as he's going down," he said, adding that the party faces "real problems" heading into future elections.

The warning comes as Trump's approval ratings hit near-record lows. An Economist/YouGov poll this month found that just 37% of voters approve of Trump's performance, while 59% disapprove. The same poll showed 57% of voters believe the Iran war was the wrong decision, and most expect the conflict to drag on for at least another year. Rising gas prices are also weighing on voters' minds.

Meanwhile, Trump is pushing Republicans to adopt stricter election rules ahead of the midterms, including voter ID requirements, proof of citizenship, and limits on mail-in voting. He argues these measures will help the GOP maintain long-term dominance, while Democrats warn they could restrict voting access. Trump has also called for ending the Senate filibuster to pass voting legislation.

Christie's comments mark a rare public break from Trump by a prominent Republican. The former governor, who ran against Trump in the 2016 primaries and later became a supporter, now sees the political winds shifting. Whether other Republicans heed his warning remains to be seen, but the numbers—as Christie put it—are "deadly."