Chris Christie in CBS "Face the Nation" interviews during 2017

On Foreign Policy: America is strongest moral power for what is good and right

CHRISTIE: I did.

Q: When asked about Russia being "killers," Pres. Trump responded, "What, you think our country is so innocent?" Is that consistent with your view of America's moral voice?

CHRISTIE: Listen, there is no question in my mind that America is the moral leader of the world. And that America is morally superior to Russia.

Q: What about the president's comments that we must respect Vladimir Putin, who has basically broken apart Russian democracy? What kind of a moral signal does that send?

CHRISTIE: I have known the president for 15 years, and I know exactly what he meant. He respects Vladimir Putin because he believes that the leaders of countries deserve to get treated with respect. But it doesn't mean that he agrees with him. It doesn't mean that he won't fight him, and it doesn't mean that he won't stand up to him.

On Immigration: No Muslim ban, but ok to ban 7 Muslim countries

CHRISTIE: I think the judge is wrong on this one. I think the president deserves great credit in moving from where he began in the campaign, which was a Muslim ban, which I at the time said I completely disagreed with. The president has listened to experts and advisers over the course of time, when he first made that statement, to this executive order, which is tailored and direct to try to deal with seven countries that are having a difficult time dealing with their own ability to control travel of their own people and policing of their own people. I would make it even more tailored if I were advising the president on this directly. But the president has moved an incredible distance from a Muslim ban to where he is now. The policy is much, much better than where the president began during the campaign.