If you’re anything like me, you responded to the news that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is running for president with a gigantic yawn. After he had already embarrassed himself during his failed run in 2016, something told him it would be a good idea to do it again in the upcoming election season. The former governor recently made some remarks that should make anyone question why he is even bothering this time around.

During an appearance Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Nation,” Christie expressed his belief that the government should not interfere in decisions made by children and their parents regarding gender issues, particularly for minors suffering from gender dysphoria. Christie emphasized the importance of parental involvement and stated that parents are best positioned to make judgments on such matters. He called for each state to require parental support and guidance in these decisions, asserting that the government should not exclude parents’ role in the lives of individuals under 18.

During the broadcast, host Jake Tapper brought up Republicans passing legislation banning puberty blockers for children suffering from gender dysphoria and referred to Christie championing laws in New Jersey to protect transgender folks. “What do you make of your fellow Republican governors and candidates going in the opposite direction?” Tapper asked.

Christie argued that “we should be focused on most importantly in these issues is making sure that there is parental involvement at every step along the way” and that he does not believe “the government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender.”

The governor continued:

And I just would say that parents are the people who are best positioned to make these judgments. So what I would like to make sure each state does is require that parents be involved in these decisions. You know, we’re talking about students. I assume you mean people under the age of 18, Jake. And the fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support and guidance and love as they make all of the key decisions of their life, and this should not be one that’s excluded by the government in any way.

Chris Christie arguing against state laws banning puberty blockers and surgical treatments for minors dealing with gender dysphoria.

This will certainly go over well with the base.

Why is he running, again? pic.twitter.com/isbmgxJqzj

— Jeff Charles, Liberty Nerd🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) June 18, 2023

Imagine running for president as a Republican in 2023 and repeating the same deceptive arguments progressives use to justify transing children. Even worse, imagine doing so thinking you actually have a chance at securing the nomination.

From where I sit, this shows that Christie does not take this race seriously and is only running for clout. Perhaps he will write a book after he ends up being forced to end his campaign because nobody on the right wants him anywhere near the White House. Maybe he’s looking for a cush job at CNN or MSNBC.

Either way, his argument is absolutely ridiculous. Sure, parents have the right to seek treatment for their children. Many on the right, including myself, have been vociferous defenders of parental rights. But just as the left does with “conversion therapy,” certain types of treatments that have been shown to cause irreversible damage should not be allowed to be used on children who do not have the ability to make such decisions for themselves. This isn’t like taking them to a dentist – it is having them take drugs that will stop their puberty growth and possibly prevent them from ever developing properly even after they stop taking them.

As for surgical treatments, do I really need to go into detail? Yes, surgery for minors is less common than puberty blockers, but there are plenty of medical professionals out there who are willing to perform operations to remove breasts and genitals. This is not a simple matter of medical treatment – it involves life-changing procedures that can’t be reversed. But why should folks like Christie care when they can just lie about it?