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Former President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to Trevor Milton, the disgraced founder of Nikola Motors, who was convicted of fraud in 2022. Milton, at age 42, shared news of his pardon on X, with White House officials later verifying the clemency decision to The Post.
The pardon recipient once led Nikola Motors, a now-defunct competitor to Elon Musk’s Tesla, with both companies drawing their names from the renowned Serbian-American inventor. At the height of his success, Milton’s wealth reached billions, with his company’s valuation surpassing that of automotive giant Ford.
Today I was issued a full and unconditional pardon by @realDonaldTrump himself. He called me personally to tell me.
This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people. It is no wonder… pic.twitter.com/qpT0jjI6Fy
— Trevor Milton (@nikolatrevor) March 28, 2025
Milton’s downfall began when skeptics revealed that his company’s promotional materials allegedly showed vehicles merely coasting downhill rather than operating under their own power. His reputation was further tarnished by allegations of sexual misconduct involving two females, including a 15-year-old relative, though these accusations never resulted in formal charges.
The decision to pardon Milton aligns with Trump’s frequent expressions of solidarity with business figures facing legal challenges. The former president often draws parallels to his own legal battles in New York regarding asset valuations, particularly citing disputes over his Mar-a-Lago property’s worth.
🚨 NEW: Trump is asked why he pardoned Nikola CEO Trevor Milton
“He came highly recommended by many people, and was taken advantage of. He did a business deal, I think, and was exonerated. I don’t know him. They say it was unfair.”
Not sure we agree with Trump on this one. pic.twitter.com/3kAaAMZfyx
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) March 28, 2025
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who served as one of Trump’s advisers and led cost-reduction efforts in the Department of Government Efficiency, had previously dismissed Nikola’s technology as “staggeringly dumb” and wrote “fuel cells = fool sells.”
The former president himself has expressed skepticism about hydrogen-powered vehicles, often commenting publicly about the possibility of explosions that would leave no trace of the vehicle’s occupants.
