...yeah, this smacks of somebody who recognizes that, if the food supply suffers, then guaranteed he's got a fight in the upcoming election. Financials he can possibly push off on the decisions of the states to close things down... a food crisis, even if it was just focused on meat, would be something else entirely, especially if it's because of something other than financials. Few people can ignore that there is absolutely legitimate reasons for a meat plant to close when there's a pandemic going on, and that the national response has been less than ideal in terms of dealing with it. And there are ways other than "I'm ordering you to stay open and work" to deal with a food shortage. Although all of the other ways likely involve us having to eat crow with trading "partners" that have been getting jerked around for the past three and a half years.
"You know how parents tell you everything's going to fine, but you know they're lying to make you feel better? Everything's going to be fine." - The Doctor