Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie got into a heated debate with MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski over his comments on abortion.

Appearing the morning after the third Republican presidential debate, Christie was confronted by Brzezinski on his comments the night before on abortion, specifically his denunciation of late-term abortion. The MSNBC anchor accused him of being dishonest, which drew a hostile reaction from the former governor.

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"And if there is a situation like that [of an abortion in the ninth month], it’s because there is a massive emergency," Brzezinski said. "So, I just think, of all the candidates, you’ve been the most honest about Trump and election integrity, but in this one respect, I have to call you out because you’re not being honest on the issue. We can debate abortion, but there isn’t abortion in the ninth month."

"Mika, you’re the one who’s not being honest. I did not say there was abortion in the ninth month. What I said was that the law in New Jersey and New York and Illinois and California permits it," Christie responded.

After a confused back-and-forth between the two, the New Jersey Republican refused to back down.

"Does the law permit it in those states? Well, that’s all I said," he said. "So I don’t understand what your problem is with that. In the end, if that’s what the law permits, that’s what the people who passed those laws said is OK, is legally permissible. That’s the point I’m making."

"Chris, you’re painting a picture about the issue of abortion that is not honest. And this is a health issue for women," Brzezinski responded.

The anchor then proceeded to accuse Christie of being dishonest again.

"Point out to me where I wasn’t honest. I said what the state of the law is. Now, you want to deny that because you know it’s miserably unpopular for the state of the law to be in that position, but that’s what the state of the law is," Christie said. "Now, you could argue about how many people are going to take advantage of it or not. I think it’s wrong for anybody to be able to take advantage of an abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy. And I think it’s wrong for the law to be there."

The former governor then playfully wagged his finger, saying, "But don’t mess with me on the law, Mika, I know that."

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"Yes, don’t mess with me on how women feel about using the ninth month argument on the issue of abortion," she responded.

Christie aimed to take a centrist view of abortion, condemning abortion laws without gestational limits as immoral, while demanding that the anti-abortion community do more to help children after they are born.