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Donald Trump shakes hands with Chris Christie after an introduction during a rally March 14, 2016, in Vienna Center, Ohio. | Getty Trump mocks Christie at rally

Donald Trump hit his newfound sidekick Chris Christie with some friendly fire on Monday while trying to attack Ohio Gov. John Kasich ahead of his home state’s Tuesday primary.

Trump, speaking a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio, accused Kasich of having abandoned his gubernatorial duties to campaign in New Hampshire.

“And your governor is absentee," Trump told the crowd. "He goes to New Hampshire, he’s living in New Hampshire. Living! Where's Chris, is Chris around? Even more than Chris Christie, he was there, right? Even more.”

Trump then turned to Christie, who was next to him on stage, and said, “I hated to do that, but I had to make my point.”

The timing was less than ideal for New Jersey's governor. In his home state, he was being criticized Monday for skipping the funeral of Sean Cullen, a state trooper killed last week, in order to campaign with Trump.