MyPillow CEO’s appearance at a White House press briefing to discuss his company’s initiative to produce face masks for the coronavirus outbreak sparked mockery from some media pundits.
Mike Lindell joined President Trump Monday evening to discuss his company’s contribution to healthcare in the United States by increasing its production of face masks from 10,000 a day to 50,000. During his remarks, he praised Trump and encouraged people to incorporate prayer and more time with family into their lives during the pandemic.
“God gave us grace on Nov. 8, 2016, to change the course we were on,” Lindell said. “God had been taken out of our schools and lives. A nation had turned its back on God. I encourage you to use this time at home to get back in the word. Read our Bible and spend time with our families.”
He added, “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. With our great president, vice president, and this administration, the other great people in this country, and praying daily, we will get through this and get back to a place that is stronger and safer than ever.”
Some critics and media pundits pounced on the comments as an opportunity for mocking the businessman.
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Is that the my pillow guy??Do I need to turn the volume up. I was waiting for the doctors
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) March 30, 2020
The “My Pillow Guy” was at the Corona Virus briefing today? Boy oh boy, do we need SNL this Saturday. If this had been a SNL skit we would have thought it was fake, right? You can’t make this shit up. Who is going to play the “my pillow guy” ? @nbcsnl @ABFalecbaldwin @AlecBaldwin https://t.co/j28Bucs7do
— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) March 30, 2020
Trump now has the guy from My Pillow doing a campaign commercial for Trump’s 2020 campaign in the middle of a press conference about a deadly virus. How can any real news network air this BS?! #StopAiringTrump
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) March 30, 2020
Trump just called the “My Pillow” guy up to the podium in the Rose Garden. You cannot make this stuff up.
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) March 30, 2020
Well, imagine my relief that the My Pillow guy is on the job
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 30, 2020
Remember, people, during a national emergency that threatens the lives of your family, the most important thing is to be grateful for the charitable donations of a guy who helped Trump get elected, as he tells you to read your Bible and put God back in the schools. https://t.co/bbg89jFdtY
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 31, 2020
In case you were wondering what My Pillow is doing in a time of coronavirus. https://t.co/W3ocMJe7Ym
— Ram Ramgopal (@RamCNN) March 30, 2020
Look, it’s hard to fill up 90 minutes worth of material every single day, so you need to get some sponsored material/infomercials https://t.co/GLawZaojsR
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) March 30, 2020
CNN cut away from the press briefing when Lindell began speaking, returning to the daily coronavirus update when Trump took back the podium.
CNN cuts away from the White House coronavirus briefing when Trump invites the My Pillow guy up to the podium to talk.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 30, 2020
Others defended Lindell’s work to donate supplies during the crisis, including The View co-host Meghan McCain, who argued that critics “should do some serious soul searching if this act of patriotism is triggering you.”
I applaud Mike Lindell for helping our country during this crisis by using his factories to make 50,000 N95 masks A DAY (!!) for our health care workers in need. This is not political – and you should do some serious soul searching if this act of patriotism is triggering to you.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 30, 2020
The man transforms nearly his entire enterprise into donating medical masks for frontline workers, and you describe him as a “a former crack addict turned evangelist turned entrepreneur turned philanthropist”?
You wouldn’t do that if he didn’t appear next to Trump. Just gross. https://t.co/qHGOEUuUXM
— James Hasson (@JamesHasson20) March 31, 2020
If you’re angry at the guy shifting over his factory to produce 50,000 facemasks a day for medical professionals, you’re doing being human wrong. #MyPillow
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 30, 2020
Mike Lindell is much more likable and doing much more good for the country than any of the mainstream journalists mocking him.
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) March 30, 2020
I was already a huge Mike Lindell fan – how he turned his life around from drug addiction to becoming a successful businessman, decided to provide jobs to Americans while eschewing larger offshoring profits- making 50,000 N95 mask puts him on even higher pedestal.#mypillowguy
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) March 30, 2020
Mike Lindell is an American hero https://t.co/8uGCSu2vue
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) March 30, 2020
Lindell tweeted after the appearance to say it was an “honor” to join Trump in the Rose Garden.
