President Donald Trump threw his full support behind Mike Lindell on Wednesday, endorsing the MyPillow founder in the Minnesota governor's race. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Lindell a “great and hard working Patriot” and offered his “complete and total” endorsement, while blasting outgoing Governor Tim Walz as one of the worst in U.S. history.
Lindell, widely known as the “Pillow Man,” entered the race last December, joining a crowded field of Republicans vying to replace Walz, a Democrat who dropped his reelection bid in January amid scrutiny over a massive fraud scandal. Prosecutors allege up to $9 billion was stolen through fraudulent meal assistance claims and other schemes reimbursed by state agencies.
Trump has repeatedly clashed with Walz over the fraud, as well as immigration enforcement and the ongoing conflict with Iran. In his endorsement, the president argued that Lindell could rescue the state from “oblivion and embarrassment.” He added, “Nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity. He truly deserves everything he gets – He will MAKE MINNESOTA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Lindell’s campaign comes with legal baggage. A federal judge recently ruled that he defamed Smartmatic by falsely claiming its voting machines rigged the 2020 election. Trump continues to baselessly claim the election was stolen, a narrative that Lindell has championed. The president is expected to deliver a primetime speech Thursday on election integrity, a topic that remains central to his political messaging.
Minnesota’s primary is set for August 11. On the Democratic side, Senator Amy Klobuchar leads a crowded field and is considered the frontrunner for the general election. Lindell recently selected retired Navy Lieutenant Commander Phillip Parish as his running mate, after Parish dropped his own gubernatorial bid to join forces with the MyPillow founder.
The endorsement underscores Trump’s continued influence in Republican primaries, as he wades into state-level races ahead of the 2026 midterms. With Lindell’s controversial history and the ongoing legal battles over election claims, the Minnesota race is shaping up to be a high-stakes contest that tests both Trump’s pull and the GOP’s direction.
