Chris Christie left the presidential race on Wednesday, but that's not what's leading the headlines about him. Instead, it's a hot mic moment in which he had some rather unflattering things to say about Nikki Haley that has everyone talking.

READ: Chris Christie to Finally Call It Quits

While preparing to announce his exit from the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Christie could be heard backstage speaking to several people. That's when the shots at Haley occur.

BREAKING: While waiting for Chris Christie announcement, he can be heard on a hot mic criticizing @NikkiHaley while talking to someone.

“She’s gonna get smoked,” he says. “You and I both know it, she’s not up to this.”

He also claims DeSantis called him, then feed is cut. pic.twitter.com/3Lrz2t6BQ8

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 10, 2024

CHRISTIE : I mean look, she's spent $68 million so far, just on TV. She's spent $68 million so far, $15 million by DeSantis, and we've spent 12. I mean, who's punching above their weight, and who's getting a return on their investment, you know, and she's gonna get smoked. You and I both know it. She's not up to this. 

(crosstalk by others in the room)

Yes, oh he's, DeSantis called me, petrified that I would...(mic cuts out)

The first thing that strikes me about Christie's comments is how arrogant he is. He's run a terrible campaign that never made a blip nationally and only garnered about 10 percent in New Hampshire, which is pretty much the only place he campaigned. He's spent all of his time going after Donald Trump, insisting that's the only way to beat the former president, and in the end, he didn't even make it to Iowa. 

So, is he really the political genius he seems to think he is? Christie is a guy who needs to step back and look in the mirror before criticizing others or pretending to know exactly how everything is going to turn out. Republicans do not like him, and there's a reason for that. 

Returning to Haley, I do think Christie leaving the race puts her in a very good position in New Hampshire. The latest polling there showed her down only single digits to Trump, and it's improbable that much of Christie's support would shift to the former president. Is she "gonna get smoked?" Perhaps in the primary overall, but probably not in New Hampshire. 

I would be interested to know what Christie was going to say about DeSantis at the end. Reading between the lines, it appears he was going to say the Florida governor believes Christie dropping out hurts him in Iowa. I'm not sure that checks out, and Christie is notorious for exaggerating to make a point. There's no telling whether anything he said is actually true. 

To add to the awkwardness, Haley put out a social media post well after the hot mic moment praising Christie and calling him a friend. 

Chris Christie has been a friend for many years. I commend him on a hard-fought campaign. Voters have a clear choice in this election: the chaos and drama of the past or a new generation of conservative leadership. I will fight to earn every vote, so together we can build a…

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 10, 2024

Was that post pre-scheduled because they knew Christie was going to drop out? Or did Haley's staffers not know about the hot mic moment before making it? Either way, it's a really weird look for Haley to commend Christie and speak as if she's his heir apparent when he just got done downing her. Regardless, the next few weeks are going to be very entertaining.