Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell plans to deliver pillows to protesting truckers via parachute

MyPillow CEO saw a shipment of merchandise turned away at the Canadian border because crew transporting it were unvaccinated

Andrew Naughtie
Thursday 17 February 2022 18:52 GMT
Comments
Ottawa residents have lost patience with trucker protests

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Entrepreneur, Trump supporter and notoriously erratic conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell says he is planning to drop pillows on protesting truckers in Canada as he supports their “freedom convoy” demonstration against Covid-19 regulations.

Speaking to the Daily Beast, Mr Lindell – the founder and CEO of MyPillow – said that he had hired a helicopter to fly into Canadian airspace and distribute pillows fitted “with little parachutes”.

“We need to get the MyPillows to the people!” he said, assuring the outlet that “it is no joke!”

Mr Lindell previously tried to get as many as 10,000 pillows across the Canadian border but failed when his crew were turned back for being unvaccinated.

At the time, he claimed: “All of our employees are busy making pillows right now for the truckers in Canada”.

Given the aerodynamic complications presented by parachutes and pillows, it is unclear whether the truckers still protesting in Canada will actually receive what Mr Lindell is promising them – although it appears to be an unsolicited donation.

The truckers’ protests have drawn praise from many on the American right, with commentators condemning Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for cracking down hard on them after they brought the centre of Ottawa to a standstill and besieged its residents with incessant honking.

There are now efforts underway to launch a copycat “freedom convoy” in the US, with multiple groups claiming they will arrive en masse in Washington, DC in early March. While the protests are ostensibly focused on government mandates designed to curb the spread of Covid-19, other political issues have surfaced too, and there are signs of involvement by far-right groups.

Earlier this week, four Canadian men who had joined a blockade of the Coutts border crossing with the US were charged with conspiracy to murder members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in