Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola and competitor of Musk, has received a full pardon from Trump (Updated) | Carscoops

      Earlier this year, Nikola filed for bankruptcy in the US.

      March 28, 2025, at 15:44

      by Brad Anderson

      Nikola's former CEO asserts that he has been fully pardoned by US President Donald Trump.

      Trevor Milton has also released a trailer for an upcoming documentary addressing Nikola's challenges.

      Milton has consistently maintained his innocence and criticized New York's conviction rate of over 90%.

      Update: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he pardoned Trevor Milton. When asked about his decision, Trump told reporters at the White House, “I believe he was exonerated. Then they brought him into New York; he faced a very difficult situation, and… he was exonerated. It was quite a celebration.”

      “They claim that his wrongdoing was that he was one of the first people to support a man named Donald Trump for president,” Trump continued, as reported by CNBC. “He backed Trump. He admired Trump. I didn’t know him, but he admired him.”

      “They persecuted him and ruined five years of his life. He… fought for five years and did nothing wrong. He is a good person.”

      The original story continues below.

      In December 2023, Trevor Milton, the founder and former CEO of Nikola, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud. Fast forward to today, and he has released a press statement claiming he has been pardoned by US President Donald Trump. Additionally, Milton states that he plans to release a documentary that aims to explore the controversies surrounding Nikola.

      However, at the time of this publication, there is no confirmation of this pardon on the US Department of Justice's website, nor has Trump mentioned it publicly on his Truth Social platform. The White House also did not respond to multiple inquiries from media outlets such as Reuters and the Financial Times.

      During his 2024 campaign, Trump criticized hydrogen cars, implying that they were likely to explode. Meanwhile, his advisor and head of the DOGE division, Elon Musk, was engaged in a public feud with Trevor Milton, exchanging sharp insults. A few years ago, Musk tweeted, “Fuel cells = fool sells,” labeling the technology “staggeringly dumb” in relation to Nikola's hydrogen-powered trucks.

      Milton, who has been out on bail since his sentencing, has actively appealed the court's decision to imprison him. He was initially hit with a $1 million fine in addition to his prison term and three years of supervised release. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay Nikola $167.7 million for making false and misleading statements.

      The entrepreneur has long asserted his innocence, and in an upcoming YouTube documentary, he plans to share his perspective.

      “This pardon is not merely about me—it represents every American who has been unjustly treated by the government, which unfortunately includes many people,” Milton stated. “It is no surprise that trust in the Justice Department has diminished to nothing. I wish judges would stop accepting whatever prosecutors tell them so that Americans could regain confidence in the justice system. Until that occurs, our justice system will continue to deteriorate.”

      “The over 90% conviction rate in New York is shocking and results from prosecutors getting what they want and incarcerating innocent individuals,” he added. “I witnessed firsthand the tactics they employ to secure those guaranteed convictions. I am incredibly thankful to President Trump for his bravery in standing up for what is right and for granting me this honorable pardon of innocence.”

      The documentary, titled "Conviction of Conspiracy: The Trevor Milton Saga," has been directed by British filmmaker Mark Soldinger. A preview of the film suggests it will reveal the media frenzy, legal strategies, and unseen dynamics that influenced the case’s outcome.

      The film seems to have been produced by Milton himself, with a trailer posted on his personal YouTube channel. Whether it will accurately depict the events that transpired remains to be seen, but it promises to provide an intriguing look into Nikola's challenges.

      Today I received a full and unconditional pardon from @realDonaldTrump himself. He called me personally to inform me. This pardon is not just about me—it encompasses every American who has been railroaded by the government, and regrettably, that’s a significant number of people. It is no wonder… pic.twitter.com/qpT0jjI6Fy— Trevor Milton (@nikolatrevor) March 28, 2025