How MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell went from exemplifying Trump's image of American entrepreneurship to touting a dubious coronavirus 'cure' to the FDA through the president

Lauren FriasAug 19, 2020, 11:51 IST

Michael Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, with President Donald Trump at the White House.CARLOS BARRIA/Reuters

MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell, a major Trump supporter and donor, has formed a close allyship with the president since the entreprenuer was first tapped for an event promoting American manufacturers.
Earlier this week, the MyPillow CEO has recently been embroiled in controversy with regards to his support for an unproven coronavirus "cure," the botanical extract oleandrin.
Lindell sits on the board of Phoenix Biotechnology, the company developing the product and has a financial stake in Phoenix, thus benefiting from potential sales of the product.
Here's how the entrepreneur used his connections with the president to push for FDA approval of the unproven coronavirus treatment.

Founder and CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell, otherwise known as the "MyPillow guy," was first tapped by President Donald Trump in the early days of his presidency to exemplify American entrepreneurship.

A major Trump donor and Fox News advertiser, Lindell formed a close allyship with the president, with Trump referring to Lindell as a "friend" and called his company's sales "unbelievable."

The MyPillow CEO, who does not have a science or medicine background, has recently been embroiled in controversy with regards to his support for an unproven coronavirus "cure," the botanical extract oleandrin — derived from the oleander plant which is toxic to humans when consumed raw. There is no known cure for the novel coronavirus.

Lindell sits on the board of Phoenix Biotechnology, the company developing the product, and has a financial stake in Phoenix and would benefit from potential sales of the product.

Here's how the entrepreneur used his connections with the president to push for FDA approval of the unproven coronavirus treatment:

Lindell, who began the MyPillow company while battling drug addiction, grew his idea into a multi-million dollar company in the early 2010s.

Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow, appears in a TV commercial for the brand. MyPillow

The self-made millionaire sat next to the president during a "Made in America" event highlighting other US manufacturers in 2017.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Mike Lindell (L), founder of My Pillow, during a Made in America event with US manufacturers in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 19, 2017. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Lindell is a major Trump donor and has appeared at campaign rallies and White House press briefings to boost the president.

MyPillow founder Michael J. Lindell (L) greets people before the start of a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump at the BOK Center, June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump is holding his first political rally since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at the BOK Center on Saturday while infection rates in the state of Oklahoma continue to rise. Win McNamee/Getty Images

In March, Lindell appeared at a White House press briefing to announce that he was converting production at MyPillow to produce up to 50,000 face masks for health workers at the front lines of the pandemic.

My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell speaks as President Donald Trump listens during a briefing about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, March 30, 2020, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

In March, Lindell appeared at a White House press briefing to announce that he was converting production at MyPillow to produce up to 50,000 face masks for health workers at the front lines of the pandemic.

Through his connections with Trump, Lindell touted an unproven coronavirus treatment, to the president and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, who serves on the White House coronavirus task force.

From left, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health Anthony Fauci and White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, attend President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force briefing in the Brady press briefing room of the White House, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Washington. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Through his connections with Trump, Lindell touted an unproven coronavirus treatment, to the president and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, who serves on the White House coronavirus task force.

Lindell said the president was "enthusiastic" about the dubious drug, and that Trump "basically said" the FDA "should be approving" oleandrin as a treatment for COVID-19.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing on April 21, 2020. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Lindell said the president was "enthusiastic" about the dubious drug, and that Trump "basically said" the FDA "should be approving" oleandrin as a treatment for COVID-19.

CNN's Anderson Cooper excoriated Lindell during an interview, reiterating that the MyPillow entrepreneur has "no medical background" and is "not a scientist."

MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell gets into a heated exchange with CNN's Anderson Cooper. CNN

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How MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell went from exemplifying Trump's image of American entrepreneurship to touting a dubious coronavirus 'cure' to the FDA through the president

Lindell, who began the MyPillow company while battling drug addiction, grew his idea into a multi-million dollar company in the early 2010s.

The self-made millionaire sat next to the president during a "Made in America" event highlighting other US manufacturers in 2017.

Lindell is a major Trump donor and has appeared at campaign rallies and White House press briefings to boost the president.

In March, Lindell appeared at a White House press briefing to announce that he was converting production at MyPillow to produce up to 50,000 face masks for health workers at the front lines of the pandemic.

Through his connections with Trump, Lindell touted an unproven coronavirus treatment, to the president and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, who serves on the White House coronavirus task force.

Lindell said the president was "enthusiastic" about the dubious drug, and that Trump "basically said" the FDA "should be approving" oleandrin as a treatment for COVID-19.

CNN's Anderson Cooper excoriated Lindell during an interview, reiterating that the MyPillow entrepreneur has "no medical background" and is "not a scientist."