Trump on why he pardoned Sheriff Joe

Why did President Trump pardon Sheriff Joe on Friday? Because he “assumed the ratings would be higher” because of the hurricane.

Transcript

00:00In the middle of Hurricane Harvey hitting on Friday night, you chose to pardon former sheriff

00:05Joe Arpaio. I wonder if you could tell us what was behind your thinking for issuing a pardon

00:10for the sheriff. And as well, what do you say to your critics, even some in your own party,

00:16who say it was the wrong thing to do? Well, a lot of people think it was the right thing to do,

00:21John. And actually, in the middle of a hurricane, even though it was a Friday evening, I assumed

00:25the ratings would be far higher than they would be normally. I assume the ratings would be far

00:28higher than they would be normally. You know, the hurricane was just starting. And I put it out

00:33that I had pardoned, as we call, as we say, Sheriff Joe.