Judge Judy responds to critics over her remarks about America: "It takes a lot longer to choke me"

Judge Judy responds to Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro after The View hosts harshly criticized her remarks about America, "I love you or I'll leave you."

EXCLUSIVE - Judge Judy Sheindlin has responded to outrage over her comments about America last month, explaining that she doesn't call America "perfect," but that the country is built on certain principles that she has to defend.

"I have a home and I have a home. I call America my home," Sheindlin told USA Today. "America has been good to me. I think it's the greatest country in the world."

"If you don't like this country, go somewhere else," he continued. Don't go to the biggest country in the world, the most successful country in the world, and say, "I want to change that."

Judge Judy says those who don't like America should go somewhere else.

ABC's "The View" devoted an entire segment to Sheindlin's take. While Sarah Hynes and Alyssa Farah Griffin came to his defense, Sonny Hastin and Anna Navarro expressed their disappointment with the judge's words. Hostin even said he detected "selfishness" in the comments, arguing that they focused too much on individual success. He said that patriotism means fighting to make your country better for everyone.

Judge Judy Sheindlin is interviewed on the set of 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' on October 4, 2016. (Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal)

"I'm ashamed of what he said and I don't like it." Navarro also said of Judge Judy's comments that it's because he loves America and feels that he has "a duty and a responsibility to speak out about the sadness and the cruelty and the racism and the abuse of power and the anti-American actions that [Trump] is doing."

Scheindlin said he did not understand Hostin's response.

"The VIEW" co-host Ana Navarro offers a key reason why she still identifies as a Republican.

Sheindlin said of Navarro that he takes everything he says with a "grain of salt."

But, he added, "there's a difference between changing a house and burning it down."

He continued: "And this country was founded on certain principles. "And where those principles are tested and they say these are not the right principles. I mean, if you're a capitalist country, you're not a socialist country."

A new poll shows that now more than ever, Americans have a positive view of socialism

He continued: The basis of this country is a capitalist country. And when you say, "Well, we don't want capitalism anymore, we want socialism," that's where I draw the line. Because then you're messing with what this country is about."

He said that socialism was unpopular with the vast majority of Americans because he assumed that most people would agree with what he said.

"The vocal minority will not address this statement," he said. "They're trying to shut you up with negative naming, with calling you names that they hope will silence you. Not responding to the message and saying, 'Judy, I understand what you're saying, but not everyone comes from a background that fulfills their life in this country ... so that everyone has the potential to achieve the American dream.'

It's an argument Sheindlin said he understands.

"But to call me out for saying it's a great country and change it, but don't burn the house down?" he asked.

"It's going to take a lot longer to choke me than Ana Navarro," he added.

Judge Judy and her son Adam Levy pose at the table. (CBS Media Ventures)

Judge Adam Levy previews his new show Nitty-Gritty — and how his style compares to his mom Judge Judy

"That's one of the sad things about the Internet is that it has the capacity to do good and bring people together," Sheindlin said. "This has allowed some people, either anonymously or overtly, to behave maliciously."

Sheindlin's special, "Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable," aired on CBS in late September.

"I think people who have been fans over the years have kind of known that what you see is what you get," he said. "The naysayers probably aren't watching. If you are not someone's cup of tea...I can skip it. "I think the fans that have watched the specials and have followed me for the last 25 or 30 years or just come in a little longer, I think they know who I am."

“My personality on my show is pretty much the same as my personality off screen. Except that I have a family. I will order my family to do the same." He laughed.

The original Judge Judy premiered in 1996 and ran for 25 seasons before ending in 2021. Sheindlin later launched Judy Justice, which ended in October. He said he's proud of the work his son, Judge Adam Levy, has been doing on "Adam's Law" now that he's taking over the televised family court after Sheindlin said he's "rebuilding" his career.

"I think he's certainly smart and he certainly works very hard at everything," Sheindlin said. "Actually, he works a lot harder than I do. I think he's doing a great job and the ratings are backing him up. And I think he has an exciting energy and a noble personality, which is what you need behind the bench."

Get all the stories you need to know from the most powerful names in news delivered to your inbox every morning.