President Trump poked fun at the media kerfuffle over his pardoning of Sheriff Joe Arpaio admidst Hurricane Harvey, telling reporters Monday he did so because "I assumed the ratings would be higher."
Trump forcefully defended the pardon, which came up almost immediately during a White House press conference with the Finnish president.
Fox News's John Roberts asked Trump about the timing of the pardon.
"In the middle of hurricane Harvey hitting Friday night, you chose to pardon Sheriff Joe Arpaio," Roberts said. "I wonder if you can tell us, what was behind your thinking for issuing the pardon, and what do you say to your critics, even some in your own party, who say it was the wrong thing to do?"
" Well, a lot of people think it was the right thing to do," Trump shot back. "Actually, in the middle of a hurricane, I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they were normally."
Trump then gave an extended defense of the pardon, mentioning Arpaio's repeated electoral victories, his evident popularity in Arizona, and what he said was a politically motivated prosecution on behalf of the Obama Administration.
"He’s done a great job for the people of Arizona," Trump said. "He’s very strong on borders. Very strong on illegal immigration. He is loved in Arizona. I thought he was treated unbelievably unfairly when they came down with their big decision to go get him right before the election."