“Donald Trump has the right to defend himself," Mike Pence said, referring to Rep. John Lewis' comments. | AP Photo Pence: Lewis 'legitimacy' comments 'deeply disappointing'

Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Sunday called Rep. John Lewis' comments questioning the legitimacy of Donald Trump's presidency "deeply disappointing."

Pence expressed respect for Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and icon of the civil rights movement, but said he hoped the congressman would "reconsider" his comments that he didn't "see this president-elect as a legitimate president.”


"Donald Trump won this election fair and square," Pence told host Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." "The American people know that, and while I have great respect for John Lewis and his contributions, particularly with the civil rights movement, I was deeply disappointed to see someone of his stature question the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s election as president and say he’s not attending the inauguration."

Pence also defended the president-elect's response to Lewis, in which he lashed out at the congressman on Twitter Saturday, saying he's "all talk, talk, talk — no action or results."

“Donald Trump has the right to defend himself," the vice president-elect said, referring to Lewis' comments. “For someone of his stature to use terms like 'this is not a legitimate president,' it’s just deeply disappointing.”

Pence also recast Trump's Twitter attack as a response not just to Lewis' comments but also to decades of Democratic policies.

"What Donald Trump was talking about there was generations of failed policies coming out of Washington," Pence said.

Trump on Saturday denounced Lewis for "complaining" about his electoral victory.

"Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to......mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results," Trump wrote in series of tweets.

Lewis told NBC’s Chuck Todd in an interview set to air in full Sunday on “Meet the Press” that he didn't see Trump as a "legitimate president."

“I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be hard. It's going to be very difficult. I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president.”