CNN’s Anderson Cooper and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell got in a heated argument live on CNN the other night with Cooper calling him a snakes oil salesman at one point.
Lindell is involved in an effort to get oleandrin, an extract from a highly toxic plant, approved by the FDA as a potential therapeutic for the virus.
“I will say the FDA has been great. They are very close. We’re very close to a vaccine. Very close to a therapeutic. I have heard that name mentioned, we’ll find out,” the president said when asked about Lindell’s effort.
From The Hill:
“You really are a snake oil salesman. I mean, you could be in the Old West standing on a box telling people to drink your amazing elixir that there’s no proof [of],” Cooper told Lindell in an interview.
Lindell is pushing oleandrin as a potential therapeutic for COVID-19. Last week, he was added to the board of Phoenix Biotechnology, which makes oleandrin, receiving a financial stake in the company, CNN reported.
Lindell confirmed to CNN Monday that Trump participated in a July meeting at the White House regarding the use of oleandrin, an extract from the plant Nerium oleander, as a potential coronavirus treatment.
Lindell defended his pushing of the drug, claiming he’s given it to friends and family and it “saved their lives.”
“I do what Jesus has me do,” he told Cooper.
“You think Jesus wants you out here promoting remedies that … [have] never been tested?” Cooper asked.
“Why would I do this? Ask yourself why would I ruin my reputation if I didn’t believe in this product?” Lindell responded.
Cooper said he thinks Lindell is doing it for money, adding that he doesn’t think Lindell has a great reputation.
>> @AndersonCooper to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell: "You really are like a snake oil salesman." pic.twitter.com/ENeSUfgc0J
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 18, 2020
