Pence Defends Trump 'Speaking His Mind' About Federal Judge, Promises 'All Legal Means' to Challenge Ruling

Pence also said the judge had right to issue the temporary restraining order.

Stephanopoulos pressed the vice president specifically about the president’s response, asking, “Is it right for the president to say ‘so-called’ judge’? Doesn’t that undermine the separation of powers in the constitution?”

“I don’t think it does,” said Pence. “I think the American people are very accustomed to this president speaking his mind and speaking very straight with them.”

U.S. District Judge James Robart on Friday placed a nationwide, temporary restraining order on Trump’s executive action on immigrants and refugees.

Judge Robart was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate by a 99-0 vote in 2004.

Pence went on to say he finds it frustrating that a federal judge would suspend a legally executed executive order designed to protect homeland security.

When asked by Stephanopoulos whether the judge also had the authority to stay the order, Pence said, “He certainly does, and that’s why the administration is complying with that order as we speak. And we’ll go through the process in the courts to get a stay of that order, so that, again, we can implement this action that is entirely focused on the safety and security of the American people.”

"In accordance with the judge's ruling, DHS has suspended any and all actions implementing the affected sections of the Executive Order," the Homeland Security Department's acting press secretary Gillian Christensen said.