Christie hits Trump plan as 'simplistic'

Gov. Christie described rival Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's immigration policies as "too simplistic" during a taped interview that aired Sunday on CBS's

Face the Nation

.

"In many ways, it's just too simplistic - the idea of building a wall, kicking everybody out, and ending birthright citizenship all sounds appealing in some respects to some folks," Christie said in the interview.

Christie said he believes in a more "complicated, nuanced solution to that problem." He did not detail his solution.

The New Jersey governor demurred when asked by moderator John Dickerson whether Trump's policy ideas are too simplistic in general - "I haven't listened to every one of his proposals that he's put out there" - and also said he is not looking to change birthright citizenship, because it is in the Constitution.

Touting his time as a U.S. attorney and as a governor facing a Democratic Legislature, Christie said he believes the Republican base feels frustration toward President Obama for "only enforcing the laws that he likes."

By contrast, Christie said, "they know that I'm a guy who knows how to enforce the law."

Christie also reiterated his criticisms of Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Dickerson drew a parallel between Clinton's responses to her email controversy and Christie's responses following the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal.

Clinton has blamed the media and partisans, Dickerson said, and essentially asked the public to trust her - similar, he suggested, to what Christie said as "Bridgegate" unfolded.

"Yeah, except that I'm telling the truth and she's not," Christie said.

Of 12 text messages sent between Christie and an aide that were later deleted, the governor said there was no investigation at the time and so he did not know of anything happening.