President Donald Trump reportedly used a Friday night rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to deliver a high-profile endorsement in the Minnesota governor’s race, throwing his full MAGA support behind MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. The endorsement marked a major boost for Lindell and underscored Trump’s continued willingness to reward allies who stood by him through the turbulence surrounding the 2020 election.
Speaking to a supportive crowd, Trump took aim at current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, calling the Democrat “corrupt and stupid,” before pivoting to praise Lindell as a fighter who paid a heavy price for challenging the results of the last presidential race.
“And you know who’s running for governor? Mike Lindell! Do we like Mike Lindell?” Trump asked, drawing applause from the audience.
Trump went on to describe Lindell as someone who endured intense pressure and personal loss for speaking out. “That man suffered. That man suffered,” Trump said. He told the crowd that Lindell stepped into the fight not as a politician, but as a private citizen who believed the election was rigged and refused to stay silent.
According to Trump, Lindell’s decision to speak out made him a target. “What he went through, because he knew the election was rigged and he did it,” Trump said. He added that Lindell consistently received enthusiastic reactions whenever Trump introduced him at events, saying, “Every time I introduced him, he got the biggest hand.”
Trump said Lindell deserved success and recognition for his persistence. “He deserves to do great,” Trump said. “These people went after him. They went after his company. They did that with me too.”
The president contrasted his own experience with Lindell’s, saying he understood the risks of political combat, while Lindell was drawn into the fight simply for raising concerns. “At least I knew what I was getting into,” Trump said. “He was just a guy that said this election was so crooked. It was so rigged.”
Trump concluded his remarks by offering an unambiguous endorsement. “He fought like hell,” Trump said. “That guy deserves to be governor of Minnesota. I’ll tell you right now. He’s a great guy, too.”
Lindell has long tied his personal fortune and public profile to his claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Over the years, he has repeatedly insisted that the election was “rigged,” using both his platform and his business resources to push those allegations.
That stance has carried legal and financial consequences. In September, a federal judge ruled that Lindell defamed Smartmatic by falsely claiming the company’s voting machines helped rig the 2020 election. An attorney for Smartmatic has said the company intends to seek “nine-figure damages” from Lindell and MyPillow for what it described as spreading false statements.
Earlier, a federal jury found Lindell guilty of defaming a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems after Lindell labeled the individual a “traitor” who helped Joe Biden win the election. During that trial, Lindell testified that his continued effort to prove the election was stolen severely damaged his finances, saying his net worth dropped from $60 million to $10 million in debt.
Despite those setbacks, Trump’s endorsement signals that Lindell’s loyalty and willingness to fight remain valued within the MAGA movement, setting the stage for a high-profile and polarizing campaign for governor in Minnesota.
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