New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was the subject of seemingly endless ridicule after he was caught by a journalist spending time at a beach that was closed to the public due to a government shutdown.
But a sand castle built on a beach nearby where Christie was soaking up some sun (or not, depending on whether you ask his press secretary) seems like the most poignant way to mock the governor’s gaffe.
Inspiration in SeasideHeights from @GovChristie stay at a closed state park beach house during budget crisis @NBCNewYork @JSHurricaneNews pic.twitter.com/MViaOTlDrh
— Brian Thompson (@BrianForNJ) July 4, 2017
The sand castle depicts Christie gazing up at the sky wearing a hat, T-shirt, and shorts, mimicking the photo taken by a photojournalist for the Star-Ledger that quickly went viral earlier this week. The words “Beach Closed,” “I Love New Jersey,” and “July 4th” were written on it, according to NBC New York.
Not much is known about the people who built the sand castle, which popped up on a beach in Seaside Heights—just north of Island Beach State Park, where Christie was spotted. The sand castle was built on Tuesday, the same day Christie signed a budget that ended the three-day government shutdown in New Jersey.
Lifeguards who watched the sand castle be built said it took two men—only identified as Larry and Tom—from 9am to 1pm ET on Tuesday to complete, according to NBCNewYork.
Unfortunately, the sand castle was destroyed “sometime before nightfall” and replaced with a smiling face, the website reported.