A Major Win Against Deep State Overreach
In a powerful display of justice, President Donald J. Trump has officially pardoned Trevor Milton, the former CEO of Nikola Motors, a once-hyped electric and hydrogen vehicle startup that briefly challenged Elon Musk’s Tesla. The pardon was confirmed by White House sources and has sent shockwaves through political and business circles.
Milton, 42, made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), and three senior officials verified the clemency on Friday—putting to rest speculation that it was a publicity stunt.
“I didn’t know him personally,” President Trump said. “But I was told by top-level people this was an unfair case. He supported Trump early—and they went after him for it.”
Targeted for His Political Beliefs?
According to President Trump, the charges were not about fraud—but about politics.
“They didn’t just go after his business,” Trump explained. “They went after his family. They destroyed five years of his life because he dared to support me.”
The President warned Americans that Milton’s ordeal is part of a larger pattern: “This is what the radical left does. They don’t compete—they persecute.”
What Really Happened to Nikola Motors?
Once valued at more than Ford, Nikola Motors became a rising star in the electric vehicle market. Milton’s net worth soared to an estimated $12 billion in 2020, with big-name investors and even General Motors showing interest.
But things took a sharp turn after critics alleged that promotional videos showed Nikola’s vehicles rolling downhill instead of moving under their own power. Despite these claims, the company briefly partnered with GM before media backlash and regulatory scrutiny caused the stock to nosedive.
Milton was convicted in 2022 on three fraud counts, but remained free during the appeals process. He was sentenced in 2023 to four years in prison, although many legal experts say the case reeked of selective prosecution.
Elon Musk, Hydrogen Cars, and Trump’s Efficiency Push
Today, Nikola is bankrupt, and Elon Musk, now one of President Trump’s top advisors and a leader in the Department of Government Efficiency, had long criticized the company’s vision.
Musk once tweeted, “Fuel cells = fool sells,” mocking the very tech Milton had promoted. Even President Trump joked about hydrogen vehicles, saying they “explode and leave no evidence behind.”
A Message to All Trump Supporters
This pardon isn’t just about one man. It’s a signal to millions of Americans who feel targeted for their beliefs.
President Trump closed with this:
“We’re restoring justice in America. We’re standing up for the forgotten people who did nothing wrong. Trevor Milton is one of them—and I’m proud to stand with him.”