Mike Lindell told Steve Bannon's War Room podcast he would enact 'new protester laws' and order the arrest of anti‑ICE demonstrators if elected Minnesota governor. He criticized Minneapolis protests following an agent‑involved shooting that killed 37‑year‑old Renee Goodin and said he would ban 'Sharia Law' on his first day in office. President Trump has endorsed Lindell, who faces ongoing defamation litigation tied to his 2020 election claims.
Mike Lindell Vows 'New Protester Laws' and Arrests for Anti‑ICE Demonstrators If Elected Minnesota Governor
mike lindell talking to reporters outside a courthouse
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell said he would introduce 'new protester laws' and order the arrest of anti‑ICE demonstrators if elected governor of Minnesota, making the comments during an appearance on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast.
Speaking Friday, Lindell criticized protests in Minneapolis that followed an agent‑involved shooting that killed 37‑year‑old mother Renee Goodin. He said his early priorities in office would include banning 'Sharia Law' and cracking down on demonstrators he claimed were being bused into the city.
What He Said
"I'm gonna ban Sharia law. That's for sure. The first day, ban Sharia Law and you're going to make new protestor laws. Minnesota, right now, you need to arrest all these protestors. When you stop people from getting to their children, their homes — these people, my friends, and folks that are downtown Minneapolis — they're scared to death... by the way, these protesters are bused in. This is all a big show."
Lindell argued the demonstrations were disrupting residents' ability to reach hospitals and pick up children from school, and said downtown residents were "scared to death." He repeated his claim that outside organizers bused protesters into Minneapolis, a claim that has been made in various protests but is not substantiated here.
Political Context And Legal Background
President Donald Trump has endorsed Lindell's bid for governor. Lindell is a frequent presence at MAGA rallies and has drawn sustained criticism for his widely debunked claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. He remains subject to a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems and was ordered last year to pay $2.3 million in a defamation judgment brought by Eric Coomer, a former Dominion director.
Legal and civil liberties experts say sweeping measures to ban a religious legal tradition or broadly criminalize protest activity would raise significant constitutional issues. Supporters of Lindell's approach frame it as a response to public‑safety concerns; opponents warn it could curtail free speech and target political dissent.
Watch: Lindell's full remarks are available on Bannon's War Room podcast.
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