When former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasted Donald Trump for bragging about being “the apple of Vladimir Putin’s eye” he was applauded via the conservative target market at Erick Erickson’s The Gathering convention in Atlanta on Saturday.

Earlier this month, Christie visited the warfare-torn us of a of Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky along with victims of the invasion. Christie is among the few GOP candidates who has pledged to proceed to aide Ukraine and toughen the country in it’s conflict in opposition to Russia.

“Just the day gone by, Donald Trump [said] he was the apple of Putin’s eye,” Christie informed  conservative radio host Erick Erickson at “The Gathering” conference on Saturday. “I’ve to tell you the reality, I don’t want to be the apple of Vladimir Putin’s eye.”

Christie’s remark was met with cheers from the audience where previously Christie has been booed for attacking Trump at GOP political conferences.

“The Christie administration would get up for our chums world wide and work with them,” he delivered. “We might predict friendship in return, but these are giant things, consequential things.”

Trump has claimed in multiple interviews that Putin do not have invaded Ukraine if he used to be president, citing his certain relationship with the Russian strongman. Furthermore, lots of the best candidates within the Republican main make stronger chopping aide to Ukraine and criticized President Joe Biden for working to expand NATO.

Watch the clip above by way of Erick Erickson and The First TV.

The publish WATCH: Conservative Crowd Applauds as Christie Blasts Trump for Being ‘The Apple of Vladimir Putin’s Eye’ first appeared on Mediaite.