iRobot shares surge 67.93% after hours on Trump administration’s robotics executive order speculation and short covering.

iRobot (IRBT) surged 67.93% in after-hours trading amid speculation the Trump administration is considering an executive order to accelerate robotics industry development, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick advocating for the sector. The move was amplified by a short squeeze, as iRobot’s stock was heavily shorted (39% of float). The potential executive order, coupled with short covering, triggered rapid gains, with call options on IRBT delivering over 130% returns. The rally aligned with broader sector momentum, as robotics peers like Serve and Richtech Robotics also rose, signaling investor optimism about U.S. government support for domestic manufacturing.