CBS "Face the Nation" interviews during 2017: on Foreign Policy

Chris Christie: 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.

Mike Pence: America represent the highest ideals of humankind

PENCE: That quote was a commitment to explore the possibility of starting anew and looking for common cause with Russia and with President Putin.

Q: Doesn't that put the US on moral par with Putin's Russia?

PENCE: I simply don't accept that there was any moral equivalency in the president's comments.

Q: President Obama was criticized consistently by conservatives for not praising American exceptionalism.

PENCE: We recognize the extraordinary superiority of the ideals of the American people and the implementation of those ideals.

Q: Do you think America is morally superior to Russia?

PENCE: I believe that the ideals that America has stood for throughout our history represent the highest ideals of humankind.

Q: But America morally superior to Russia, yes or no?

PENCE: I think it is without question.

Mike Pence: Re-engage the world but put America first

PENCE: The president-elect is willing to approach this terrible relationship the United States has with Russia today with fresh eyes and to at least be open to a better relationship with Vladimir Putin and with Russia. Look, we have some common interests that would be well served if we were able to improve our relationship with Russia. The president-elect is determined to re-engage the world, put America first, and see if we can make progress for the security and peace of the world.

Q: Does Donald Trump demand that Russia get out of eastern Ukraine?

PENCE: Whether it be eastern Ukraine or Crimea, that the action by the Russians has demonstrated the absence of American leadership over the last eight years--

Q: What does the new leadership want to do?

PENCE: I think America is going to be more respected in the world the very moment that Donald Trump takes the oath of office as the 45th president of the United States.