Explosion at Trump Hotel: Tesla Cybertruck Incident Claims One Life in Las Vegas

In a shocking incident on the morning of January 1, 2025, a Tesla Cybertruck burst into flames outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, leading to the death of one person and injuring seven others. The event unfolded around 8:40 a.m. local time when the Cybertruck, reportedly carrying a load of fireworks or possibly a bomb, exploded in the valet area just outside the hotel’s glass entrance doors.

Law enforcement and fire officials quickly responded to the scene, with the Clark County Fire Department confirming they had extinguished the fire. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has launched a criminal investigation into the event, treating it as a potential act of terrorism due to the nature of the explosion and its timing. This comes only hours after a separate terror attack in New Orleans where a driver rammed into New Year’s Eve celebrants.

Videos and eyewitness accounts shared on social media showed the Cybertruck engulfed in flames, with some describing the sound of the explosion as similar to a “rolling garbage dumpster.” The truck was rented from Turo, the same car-sharing app used for the vehicle in the New Orleans attack, which has raised concerns about security measures of such platforms.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO and a close advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, stated on X that “the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.” Musk emphasized that all vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion, distancing the incident from any fault in Tesla’s manufacturing or design.

The Trump International Hotel was evacuated following the explosion, with guests being moved to other accommodations. Authorities are currently investigating if there is any link between this incident and the New Orleans attack, focusing on motives, potential accomplices, and whether this was an intentional act aimed at sending a political message.

The FBI is assisting local law enforcement in the investigation, looking into all aspects including the possibility of secondary explosive devices, although there have been no reports of further threats to the community. The identity of the deceased, believed to be the driver, has not yet been released to the public.

This incident has reignited debates on vehicle safety, security of high-profile locations, and the implications of electric vehicles in potential terror scenarios.