Trump opens National Prayer Breakfast with talk about TV ratings

President Trump on Thursday addressed the National Prayer Breakfast, opening his remarks by talking about TV ratings. 

Trump noted his "tremendous success" as star of reality show "Celebrity Apprentice," as well as the show's drop in ratings since he left.

"We know how that turned out. The ratings went right down the tubes. It's been a total disaster" since the show restarted with Arnold Schwarzenegger hosting, Trump said.

"And I want to just pray for Arnold if we can, for those ratings," he joked.

Trump last month tweeted that Schwarzenegger's debut as host of "New Celebrity Apprentice" got "destroyed" in the ratings compared with previous seasons. Trump hosted the show for 14 seasons, from 2004 until he launched his presidential campaign in mid-2015.

During the prayer breakfast, the president also praised Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who spoke earlier during the breakfast.

"I don't know, chaplain, whether or not that's an appointed position," he said.

"Is that an appointed position? I don't even know if you're Democrat or if you're Republican, but I'm appointing you for another year," Trump said. "The hell with it.

"And I think it's not even my appointment, it's the Senate appointment, but we'll talk to them. Your job is very very secure."