On Friday night during the start of the devastating Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Donald Trump decided to release information from the White House, including his controversial pardon of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. While being questioned about his decision by a reporter on Monday, the president was quick to bring up television ratings.

Trump on ratings

Before Donald Trump announced his plans to run for president in the summer of 2015, he had been building his brand as the host of the reality show "The Apprentice." For a decade, Trump was the star of one of the top rated shows on television, with his signature "You're Fired" catchphrase being known across the country.

When the billionaire real estate mogul decide to step away from the world of entertainment and try his hand at politics, many didn't know what to expect. However, it didn't take long for Trump to show the world that his TV persona and public image that has landed him in the headlines for decades was not far from the person he came to be as a politician. Over the last two years, Trump has promoted himself as a Washington outsider, using controversial and questionable rhetoric and tone to promote himself. Trump has routinely lashed out on social media, hitting back at anyone who doesn't agree with his agenda, while doing so in what many believe is offensive. This past Friday, Trump took advantage of the attention generated by Hurricane Harvey in Texas to release the fact that he had pardoned Joe Arpaio and was later questioned on the issue, as reported by C-SPAN on August 28.

After being found guilty of criminal contempt by a federal judge for allegedly racially profiling illegal immigrants, former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio was let off the hook. The White House announced on Friday that Donald Trump would pardon Arpaio, doing so during the middle of Hurricane Harvey.

On Monday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto met with Donald Trump at the White House as the two then took questions from reporters in the East Room.

After being pressed about the timing of his pardon, Trump was quick to answer, while referencing high TV ratings in the process. "A lot of people think it was the right thing to do, John. And actually, in the middle of a hurricane, even though it was a Friday evening, I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they would be normally," Trump said.

"You know the hurricane was just starting. And I put it out that I had pardoned...as we call, as we say...Sheriff Joe," he added.

Moving forward

As Donald Trump continues to make questionable statements, both in person and on social media, his standing with the American people appears to be suffering. According to the most recent round of polling data, Trump's approval rating is now down to a new low, sitting at just 35 percent.