Gov. Chris Christie Ignites Outrage While Enjoying N.J. Beach He Closed in Shutdown

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is facing major backlash after he was spotted on a public beach after he ordered public parks closed down amid a state government shutdown.

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As summer got into full swing ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend, the governor and his family were photographed at Island Beach State Park enjoying some fun in the sun.

The image was captured by New Jersey Advance Media and was posted Sunday afternoon soon after it was shot, sparking ire across the state.

It also caused a roar on social media as users began making memes of Christie living a carefree life in other scenarios.

The photos were taken before Christie had to report to Trenton, NJ, for a news conference about the shutdown.

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Reporters asked the governor if he had gotten any sun, to which he replied: “I didn’t. I didn’t get any sun today.”

When asked the same question, Christie spokesman Brian Murray told reporters, "He did not get any sun. He had a baseball hat on."

Christie also insisted that the area he was on is separate from the park and he was not utilizing state services.

“Run for governor, and you can have a residence there,” he told reporters.

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