Chris Christie: I might make you 'cringe every once in a while'

RTX1IGE0

(Reuters/Brendan McDermid) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) kicked off his 2016 presidential campaign Tuesday with the slogan, "Telling It Like It Is."

And throughout his announcement, Christie vowed to bring his famously blunt persona to the national stage.

"As a candidate for president, I want to promise you just a few things. First: a campaign without spin," he said. "You're going to get what I think, whether you like it or not, or whether it makes you cringe every once in a while or not."

Christie, who is trailing in the polls, is hoping that he can revitalize his White House ambitions by telling voters what they don't want to hear. Notably, he has grabbed the so-called "third rail" of American politics by promising to cut entitlements.

"I'm going to give the answer to the question that's asked, not the answer that my consultants told me to give back stage. A campaign that every day will not worry about what is popular, but what is right. Because what is right is what will fix America — not what's popular," he said. "All the signs say, 'Telling It Like Is.' But there's a reason for that."

Christie added, "The truth will set us free, everybody."

NOW WATCH: 11 little-known facts about Hillary Clinton

More From Business Insider

• CHRISTIE: 'We're going to go on and win this election'
  

• Chris Christie is getting torched by the school official who's hosting his 2016 announcement
  

• Chris Christie was just named MVP at a baseball game