US President Donald Trump has signed a full and unconditional pardon for Nikola Motor founder Trevor Milton, who was previously convicted of defrauding investors. The White House confirmed the news today, sparking a furious reaction in both political and business circles.
Image source: Nikola Motor
Milton was found guilty in 2023 of misleading investors about the capabilities of his company, which was developing zero-emission trucks powered by hydrogen. Specifically, he claimed that the company’s flagship Nikola One model was developed entirely in-house, when that was not true.
One of the key elements of the prosecution’s case was a video of a truck allegedly driving under its own power. It later turned out that the truck was simply rolling down a small hill and the whole thing was staged. These actions became part of a larger investigation that resulted in Milton being removed from his positions as chairman and CEO and sentenced to four years in prison.
Despite the verdict, Milton remained free on bail and awaiting appeal. He posted a video on social media declaring, “I am free. Prosecutors can no longer harm me.” He also said that Trump personally called him to inform him of the pardon. In his X post, Milton emphasized that this decision affects not only him, but every American who he believes has been unfairly persecuted by the government.
Recall that Nikola Motor was founded in 2015 and positioned itself as a pioneer in the field of hydrogen fuel cell trucks. However, the startup’s reputation was shaken after the publication of an investigation by Hindenburg Research, which claimed that the company’s technology claims were exaggerated or even falsified.
In addition to the fake video, Milton was accused of falsely claiming to produce his own hydrogen at discounted prices and multibillion-dollar truck orders that never happened. Nikola filed for bankruptcy in early 2025.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Trump has used his pardon power against controversial figures in the transportation industry. He previously pardoned Anthony Levandowski, who was convicted of stealing trade secrets from Google’s self-driving car division.