Convicted fraudster and Nikola Motor Company's Trevor Milton on Friday sent out a press release to the masses claiming to have been pardoned by US President Donald Trump. However, so far, there is no physical proof, and some say it’s all just one big PR stunt. So which is it?
Milton, who claims he has received a “full and unconditional pardon of innocence” from the President in a PR Newswire release, posted the news along with a video on his X account as well.
Milton says Trump called him personally to relay the “sacred pardon,” adding that he was “incredibly grateful” for the President’s “courage in standing up for what is right.”
Milton was convicted of securities and wire fraud in 2022 after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused the former startup founder of misleading investors about Nikola’s electric truck technology.
Citing Trump’s inaugural address and his vow “to end the political weaponization of the Justice Department,” Milton’s release states the pardon “marks a step toward fulfilling that commitment.”
“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 why trust and confidence in the Justice Department has eroded to nothing,” Milton wrote in his X post.
Today I was issued a full and unconditional pardon by @realDonaldTrump himself. He called me personally to tell me.
undefined Trevor Milton (@nikolatrevor) March 28, 2025
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
"The 90+% conviction rate in New York is appalling and is a result of prosecutors getting whatever they want and putting innocent people in prison. I saw firsthand the tactics they use to achieve those guaranteed convictions,” he added.
Internet cries foul
After posting about his unconditional pardon, social media began to light up, questioning not only the validity of Milton’s claims, but why Trump would issue a pardon for the convicted fraudster in the first place.
So far, it had been widely circulated that neither Trump, the Justice Department, nor the White House has confirmed Milton's claim (nor denied it), and many were quick to point out that the alleged pardon was not listed anywhere on the White House website.
"Where can i find the legal documents of your pardon? i can not find anything related to it, thanks," one X user wrote.
Sorry to all the naysayers, but it appears that the pardon is, in fact, real. TechCrunch reported that the White House officially confirmed the news to them early Friday morning, although there is still no official announcement at the time of publish.
Even so, thousands have already commented on Milton’s post, many noting that Milton, who had allegedly avoided politics in the past, conveniently had donated millions to the Trump campaign in the run-up to the November elections, calling it a blatant "quid pro quo."
"According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, Milton contributed over $2 million to Republican groups between September and December 2024, with his largest donation being $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising committee supporting Trump’s 2024 campaign. Prior to this, Milton had no recorded history of political donations, " X user @riverwalk99 pointed out in a post.
Even more obnoxious, the fact that Trump’s newly appointed US Attorney General Pam Bondi (the nation’s top attorney) is related to one of Milton’s lawyers has garnered the ire of many on social media.
“Pam Bondi is his lawyer’s sister!” wrote @IamTom1975, highlighting an excerpt from some unknown publication.
Pam Bondi is his lawyer’s sister! pic.twitter.com/6asODu2hG5
undefined Tom (@IamTom1975) March 28, 2025
Other users simply expressed their disbelief about the situation.
“You are the worst kind of person in the stock market; an unscrupulous lying charlatan that does anything — including deliberately misleading investors — to augment your own personal profile. I can’t believe he pardoned you. You deserve to go to jail,” one post said.
Others wondered aloud whether Milton’s announcement was all just part of a calculated plan (or wishful thinking), hoping to pique Trump’s interest in issuing a pardon or to use the PR stunt as a way to force his hand.
It’s no secret that fellow swindler and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has also been actively campaigning for Trump to pardon a conviction and 25-year sentence handed down last March for defrauding investors of millions through the cryptocurrency exchange.
Ironically, Milton also announced he will be launching a documentary about his case now that his record will be “fully cleared and his freedom and rights restored.”
Milton, who founded Nikola in 2015, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2023, and last month, Nikola Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Federal prosecutors charge that Milton misled investors by stating that the company’s technology and its EV batteries were produced in-house, including the development of a "Nikola One" semi-truck that he knew did not work, according to Reuters.
The pardon will protect Milton from the possibility of having to pay back nearly $700,000 million in restitution to shareholders and victims as requested by prosecutors earlier this month.
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