Trevor Milton is raising funds for a new jet he claims will transform flying

Overall sentiment

• Dominant tone is highly skeptical and often disgusted about a convicted fraudster, pardoned by a convicted politician, raising money for a new “transformative” jet.
• Many comments invoke classic con-man dynamics (“suckers,” “greater fool”) and see this as an almost textbook example.

Pardon, politics, and justice

• Commenters highlight the pardon as an example of “justice for sale,” noting reported large donations to the politician who granted it.
• Some see a recurring pattern of fraudsters being favored by that politician.
• There are calls to limit presidential pardon power or require legislative oversight.
• A few comments use heavy sarcasm to criticize deference to such pardons.

Media coverage and headlines

• Debate over the Wall Street Journal piece: some see it as a clear hit piece that portrays the founder as shady.
• Others argue the headline, which repeats a flattering quote about being “trustworthy,” functions as uncritical amplification, since many readers never go beyond the title.
• This leads to a broader point: signaling and attention-weighted messaging can effectively endorse someone even when the body text is critical.

Why fraudsters get funded again

• Several explanations are offered:
  • Excess capital among the ultra-wealthy seeking yield, even via risky or dubious ventures.
  • Charismatic founders skilled at manipulation, storytelling, and reframing past fraud as misunderstanding or victimization.
  • Investors betting on “greater fool” dynamics and viewing losses as tax-advantaged or reputationally survivable.
  • Social/class solidarity: once someone is rich or famous, they’re treated as a peer, not a cautionary tale.
  • Brand and distribution: a notorious name easily opens doors and attracts capital.

AI jet concept and aviation concerns

• Commenters mock the “AI flight” marketing as buzzword-laden, noting that robust autopilots and even emergency autoland already exist.
• Key technical concern: routine automation is largely solved, but handling unanticipated emergencies still relies on human judgment.
• Some see the real goal as lowering the training bar so very wealthy, minimally trained owners can fly high-performance jets.
• Others cynically note that “AI” also provides a convenient future scapegoat when things go wrong.

Ethics, trust, and recidivism

• Many assert that compulsive or opportunistic liars rarely change and should never again hold positions of high trust.
• Suggested standard: forgive personally, but never forget; do not restore such people to leadership where they can repeat the same harm.
• Sexual assault allegations and prior fraudulent behavior deepen the conviction among commenters that this person should not be funded or trusted.