After explaining that MyPillow was dedicating three-fourths of its manufacturing capabilities to produce cotton face masks for health care providers and studying how to help companies rebound from the economic standstill brought about by the pandemic, Lindell asked whether it would be OK to read something he’d written “off the cuff.”

“God gave us grace on November 8, 2016, to change the course we were on,” Lindell began, referencing the day Trump was elected president. “Taken out of our schools and lives, a nation had turned its back on God.”

Lindell then offered advice to families stuck at home because of various social-distancing guidelines: “I encourage you to use this time at home to get back in the Word, read our Bibles and spend time with our families.”

“Our president gave us so much hope. Where just a few short months ago, we had the best economy, the lowest unemployment, and wages going up, it was amazing,” he continued, as Trump stood behind him expressionless. “With our great president, vice president and this administration and all the great people in this country praying daily, we will get through this and get back to a place that’s stronger and safer than ever.”

Trump, who has privately been nudging Lindell to run for governor of Minnesota in 2022, appeared taken aback by the gesture.

“I did not know he was going to do that, but he is a friend of mine, and I do appreciate it,” the president said, before waving up the next executive, Honeywell CEO Darius Adamczyk, to talk about his company’s manufacture of N95 face masks.

