Donald Trump Pardons Convicted Nikola Founder Trevor Milton

The pardon halts Milton's four-year prison sentence as Nikola Corporation liquidates assets following bankruptcy.

Trevor Milton, founder of the now-bankrupt electric truck company Nikola, was pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump on March 28, 2025.
Milton was convicted in 2022 for defrauding investors by exaggerating Nikola's technological capabilities, including staging a promotional video of a truck appearing to function under its own power.
Trump justified the pardon by claiming Milton was unfairly targeted due to his political support for the Republican Party.
Nikola Corporation, once valued at $29 billion during the electric vehicle market boom, is in the process of liquidating its assets after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.
The company owes significant debts to creditors, including $13.3 million to German auto supplier Bosch, while prosecutors recently sought $661 million in restitution from Milton for defrauded investors.