President Donald Trump said Monday that he announced his pardon of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio right as Hurricane Harvey was moving into southeast Texas because "I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they would be normally."

Standing alongside Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at a White House press conference, Trump was asked by Fox News reporter John Roberts what he would say to those, including Republicans, who had been critical of his pardoning Arpaio.

Arpaio, the former Maricopa County sheriff, was convicted of criminal contempt for ignoring a court order to stop racial profiling of Latinos.

"What do you say to your critics, some even in your own party, who say it was the wrong thing to do?" Roberts asked.

"Well a lot of people said it was the right thing to do, John," Trump said. "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. You know, the hurricane was just starting. And I put it out that we pardoned, as we say, Sheriff Joe."

"He's done a great job for the people of Arizona," Trump continued. "He's very strong on borders, very strong on illegal immigration. He is loved in Arizona.