President Trump used his North Carolina rally on Friday to do what he does best, blow past the consultants and say exactly what he thinks. This time, the target of his praise was Mike Lindell, who just announced he is running for governor of Minnesota. And Trump did not exactly whisper his support.
“You know who’s running for governor? Mike Lindell,” President Trump told the crowd. From there, he launched into a blunt defense of a man the political and corporate worlds have spent years trying to crush. Trump reminded everyone that Lindell was not a politician when all this started. He was a businessman who spoke up because, in Trump’s words, “he knew the election was rigged.”
“That man suffered,” Trump said, pointing out what Lindell endured for daring to challenge the official narrative of 2020. “They went after him, they went after his company. They did that with me too, but at least I knew what I was getting into.” That line mattered. Trump was acknowledging something many Republicans understand instinctively. Lindell stepped into a buzzsaw without the protections or preparation that come with a political career.
Trump went even further, saying Lindell “fought like h***” and flatly declaring that he deserves to be governor of Minnesota. That is not a casual endorsement. That is Trump signaling to the base that Lindell is one of theirs.
Of course, the media immediately pivoted to legal trouble. CBS News highlighted recent rulings against Lindell in defamation cases brought by election technology companies like Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems. Lindell has said publicly that his activism wiped out his fortune, claiming his net worth went from around $60 million to being $10 million in debt. The tone is always the same, speak out and this is what happens to you.
Lindell announced his run last week, jumping into a crowded GOP primary in Minnesota, a state Republicans have struggled to break through in for years. Whether he wins or not, his candidacy sends a message. The era of polished, risk averse Republicans is fading. Voters are more interested in fighters than resumes.
Trump’s rally itself was part of a broader push ahead of the 2026 midterms. He repeated familiar themes about America’s global standing and introduced Michael Whatley, whom he is backing in an upcoming Senate race in North Carolina. Trump is clearly working to shape the party’s future, even as a term limited president.
The Lindell endorsement fits perfectly into that strategy. Trump is rewarding loyalty, courage, and willingness to take hits. Love him or hate him, Mike Lindell did not fold when the pressure came. In Trump’s world, that counts for a lot. And now, Minnesota’s governor race just got a lot more interesting.
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