Donald Trump is branded a gift from God during White House coronavirus briefing
Donald Trump lapped up praise from a businessman friend and Republican donor at Monday's press briefing
President Donald Trump stood and watched as a business tycoon claimed he’d been made president by God during his latest coronavirus press briefing.
Monday’s presidential press conference began like many before it. Trump gave a handful of updates regarding the outbreak, including news that over one million Americans had been tested, then he deviated from his weeks-long pattern.
Instead of handing the microphone over to members of his administration to discuss how the country is handling the crisis, he introduced a group of business leaders, including Mike Lindell, who is the founder of the ‘My Pillow’ manufacturing company and a major donor to the Republican party.
‘A friend of mine, Mike Lindell of My Pillow, boy, do you sell those pillows. It’s unbelievable what you do,’ Trump said, lauding the pillow magnate – known widely for his infomercials – as millions of Americans tuned in for updates on the public health emergency.
Lindell began by explaining that he was donating three-quarters of his manufacturing capabilities to produce cotton face masks to help combat the crisis, then told the president that wanted to read something he had written ‘off the cuff.’
‘God gave us grace on November 8, 2016 (Trump’s election) 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.’
Lindell went on to urge Americans to read the Bible then continued commending Trump, who had reportedly been prodding Lindell to run for governor of Minnesota in the 2022 election.
‘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,’ Lindell said.
‘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 responded to the comments with a look of surprise, then said: ‘I did not know he was going to do that, but he is a friend of mine, and I do appreciate it.’