On March 18, 2020, in an emotional interview with CNBC, Ackman called upon President Trump for a "30-day shut down" of the American economy to slow the spread of coronavirus and minimize loss of life and ensuing economic destruction resulting from the shutdown.[60] Ackman expressed a fear for the lives of his family. He warned that without intervention, hotel stocks were “going to zero” and said that America could “end as we know it." He also cautioned U.S. companies to stop stock buyback programs because “hell is coming.”[61] Ackman later received criticism for actively buying discounted equity stakes in the very companies he was warning could fail;[62] however, Ackman already had realized roughly half of the gains before appearing during the CNBC interview.[63]