Trump thrives on 'chaos and turmoil' when it's on his terms, Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor, says. But an indictment 'never helps anybody.'

• Donald Trump and his allies have claimed that an indictment will only help his election prospects.

• Chris Christie, a former district attorney, said Trump thrives on "chaos and turmoil."

• But an indictment "never helps anybody," Christie said on ABC's "This Week."

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said on Sunday that an indictment won't help Donald Trump, countering the former president's claims that it'll only make him more popular.

While discussing Trump's possible indictment for hush-money payments to adult actress Stormy Daniels, Christie said on ABC's "This Week" that Trump thrives on conflict but only when he's behind the narrative reins.

"The circus continues. I mean, look, he only profits and does well in chaos and turmoil. And so he wants to create the chaos and turmoil on his terms," Christie said. "He doesn't want anybody else's terms … He wants it on his terms."

However, Christie, who is also a former district attorney, added: "But look at the end, being indicted never helps anybody. It's not a help."

A few weeks before the possibility of an indictment further materialized, Trump said he "wouldn't even think about" dropping out of the 2024 race even if he was charged with a crime.