Donald Trump has endorsed Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a prominent proponent of election fraud claims, for Minnesota governor, potentially altering the landscape of a competitive Republican primary.
Trump announced his support for Lindell on Truth Social, calling him "one of America's greatest and most hard working Patriots" and stating that Lindell "will be SPECTACULAR!!!" The former president asserted that "nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity," concluding with "MIKE LINDELL HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT - HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN."
The endorsement surprised other Republican candidates in the race, including Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and healthcare executive Kendall Qualls, who had been considered the frontrunners. The winner of the August 11 primary will face Democratic incumbent Senator Amy Klobuchar in November.
Lindell, often referred to as the "Pillow Man," has been a vocal supporter of Trump since 2016. His public profile significantly grew after the 2020 presidential election, when he began making unsubstantiated claims that the election was rigged through corrupted voting machines. His advocacy for these claims led to financial repercussions, including major retailers dropping MyPillow products and legal challenges from voting technology companies.
In 2023, Lindell was found liable for defaming a former Dominion executive, and a successor company to Dominion agreed to drop its lawsuit against him earlier this month. His controversial stance on election integrity also led to Fox News pulling his advertisements in January 2024 due to an unpaid bill of $7.8 million, a move Lindell claimed was an attempt to silence him.
Despite trailing in polls against Klobuchar and receiving a snub from Republican delegates at the party's May convention, where Demuth secured the endorsement, Lindell expressed jubilation following Trump's backing. "My mind is just rolling because I'm so excited," Lindell said. "There's so much hope, and now it's just ... to a whole new level."
Democratic state party chair Richard Carlbom criticized the endorsement, labeling Lindell "Minnesota's election-denying Trump clone" and stating, "We look forward to holding them both accountable in November."
Trump's endorsement comes just before he is scheduled to deliver a primetime address focused on voting machines and election security, an event Lindell predicted would bring him "vindication."
Lindell has previously spoken about his struggles with crack cocaine addiction, which he says he overcame in 2009. He rebuilt his life and established MyPillow as a successful infomercial business.