Trump Pardons Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Following Fraud Conviction

The White House confirms the pardon, nullifying Milton's prison sentence and $695 million restitution obligations, as public scrutiny grows over political donations and justice implications.

Trevor Milton, convicted of securities and wire fraud in 2022, announced on social media that President Donald Trump granted him a full and unconditional pardon.
The White House confirmed the pardon, which nullifies Milton's four-year prison sentence and over $695 million in restitution payments to Nikola shareholders and a wire fraud victim.
Milton, who resigned from Nikola in 2020 after fraud allegations, was found guilty of misleading investors, including staging a video of a non-functional truck appearing operational.
The pardon follows Milton's significant financial contributions to Trump and Republican causes in late 2024, raising questions about the motivations behind the decision.
Nikola Motors, once valued at $30 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2025, marking a dramatic collapse of the electric vehicle company.