iRobot shares surge 62.31% intraday driven by speculation of White House support for U.S. robotics industry.

iRobot (IRBT) surged 62.31% intraday following speculation about potential White House support for the U.S. robotics industry. Multiple news reports highlighted anticipation of a Trump administration executive order to boost robotics development, with Commerce Secretary Lutnick meeting industry leaders and the Department of Transportation preparing a robotics task force. The surge aligned with broader gains in robotic concept stocks, including Serve Robotics and Richtech Robotics, as traders positioned for policy-driven growth. Despite iRobot’s 31% early-morning rise, its stock remains down over 65% for the year, reflecting ongoing volatility amid high short interest (39% of float) and weak fundamentals. The rally underscores market optimism around regulatory tailwinds, though analysts caution against overreliance on speculative catalysts given the company’s financial challenges.