Gov. Chris Christie generated a storm of criticism on Twitter over the weekend after images surfaced of him lounging on the sand at Island Beach State Park -- despite a government shutdown that closed state parks to the public over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

NJ Advance Media cameras initially caught Christie relaxing with his family on the beach. As News 12 New Jersey has reported, Monday marked the third day of a government shutdown. Christie had said he would sign a budget if state legislators could agree to pass one.

"The people that are getting hurt are not the legislators that have to go Trenton, or should be in Trenton right now, but small businesses here in Berkeley Township and all over the state of New Jersey who rely on Fourth of July weekend income," said Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who is also a candidate to replace Christie in the upcoming election.

Democratic candidate Phil Murphy did not immediately respond to multiple News 12 requests for comment.

The governor has gotten a lot of criticism for using the summer beach house provided by the state. 

Christie told reporters Saturday that the beach house is separate from the park, and that his family would not ask for any state services.