MyPillow CEO and right-wing conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell rose to national infamy for his fantasies about the validity of the 2020 election. While even the Republicans who embraced nonsense that the election was somehow "stolen" from former President Donald Trump have long since accepted that Trump's earliest chance at a comeback will be the 2024 election, Lindell continues to insist that his election delusions will be vindicated and Trump will retake the White House, citing increasingly deranged "evidence."
Though he's yet to come forward with any proof that election companies and foreign countries conspired with Democrats to steal the election, Lindell claims he has enough "evidence" to imprison 300 million people—the majority of the U.S. population and far more than the number of people who voted in 2020 in the first place.
But in today's GOP, Lindell's endorsement—for some candidates—is somehow still a coveted one.
That's why far-right Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci was quick to boast Lindell's endorsement last week.
I am thrilled to announce another endorsement from entrepreneur and patriot Mike Lindell!
Look for Mike to join Joe and me on the campaign trail soon! pic.twitter.com/hewehFnJMl
— Jim Renacci (@JimRenacci) February 11, 2022
There's just one problem: Lindell says he never endorsed Renacci at all.
According to a Cincinnati Enquirer report from Jessie Balmert, Ohio-based election conspiracy theorist Douglas Frank texted Lindell after Renacci began touting the endorsement.
Frank wrote:
"Everyone is atwitter in Ohio, wondering why you would endorse an establishment RINO [Republican in name only] who has been calling you a nutjob for over a year"
Lindell responded:
"Tell them I am not endorsing him !!!!"
He went on to do a Facebook livestream, proclaiming:
"So that is not true with Jim – Reh-NAH-she or NAH-key, NAH-she? – endorsement. That is not true."
In an awkward turn of events, Balmert reports that Renacci's campaign staff continues to insist Lindell endorsed—or promised to endorse—their candidate.
Renacci advisor Brad Parscale, himself a former advisor for Trump's 2020 campaign, addressed the matter on Facebook, showing pictures of texts supposedly from Lindell and saying it was "sad" to see what Lindell had become.
Social media users are having a field day with the fiasco.
It's just a clown car here. https://t.co/CjnQ55lczq
— Our Revolution Ohio (@Ourrevoh) February 14, 2022
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
MyPillow fight: How Mike Lindell's endorsement for Ohio governor unraveled
"I thought Mike Lindell was an honorable man!' MyPillow CEO infuriates Ohio campaign by pulling endorsementhttps://t.co/dy5c9nZ6HF
— Pixi Vaxxed (@Pixie1665) February 14, 2022
There are three — THREE — Ohio Governor candidates fighting over the endorsement of the MyPillow guy? https://t.co/5inPHj6kvo
— Stef Fanski (@Oh__Cleveland) February 14, 2022
lmfao https://t.co/SHR8DXAnsW pic.twitter.com/8aRxJXdCev
— ThirstEnergy Stadium (@winzigpedia) February 14, 2022
If you’re having a bad day, just remember that Jim Renacci bragged about having this dimwit’s endorsement, only for said dimwit to renege on that endorsement. https://t.co/G6NojS23iO
— Eric Carovello (@EricCarovello) February 12, 2022
Even Renacci's initial announcement of Lindell's supposed support was met with mockery.
If one is counting on My Pillow Guy, you're on drugs
🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/p9rXnSc5LX
— #MattGaetzIsGoingToPrison (@Biden_My_Time) February 15, 2022
This is some sort of joke, right? https://t.co/1cJoY2birf
— Just Me (@MeJustmetweetin) February 11, 2022
Believe it or not, this endorsement could help. https://t.co/LfMtaiTDaw
— Realignment Politics (@RealignmentP) February 11, 2022
Who’s next? JFK Jr?
— Robert Danzo (@danzo1979) February 11, 2022
The Renacci campaign has so far insisted that Lindell promised an endorsement.