Videos of a Tesla Cybertruck exploding outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas in an apparent explosion made headlines across social media this New Year’s Day.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but speculation ran rampant, fueled by heightened concerns following a terrorist attack in New Orleans earlier in the day. Though some speculated that it was merely a freak explosion, videos shared to social media show firework-style mortars exploding in and around the vehicle following some sort of detonation, and according to reports, investigators are treating the incident as a possible terror attack.
Many figured as much, noting the connection between Tesla, which is owned by Elon Musk, and the Trump Hotel, owned by Donald Trump.
According to officials, the Cybertruck pulled into the valet area of the hotel before it exploded. The driver was killed in the blast. Thankfully, no other fatalities have been reported, although several bystanders sustained minor injuries.
Another question is whether the Las Vegas incident and the New Orleans incident are connected. According to the Associated Press, the Cybertruck involved in the Las Vegas incident was rented through Turo, the same car-sharing platform used to obtain the vehicle in the New Orleans attack. While there’s currently no evidence linking the two incidents, authorities are not ruling out terrorism, and they have deemed the Las Vegas explosion an intentional act.
Three senior U.S. law enforcement officials have confirmed that the blast was deliberate.
Three senior US law enforcement officials say the Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas was “intentional.” pic.twitter.com/iT00VY9ifY
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 1, 2025
As investigations continue, this alarming incident underscores the growing concern over the use of cutting-edge technology in acts of violence and raises questions about potential security gaps in peer-to-peer rental platforms.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to the incident on X Wednesday afternoon.
The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now.
Will post more information as soon as we learn anything.
We’ve never seen anything like this. https://t.co/MpmICGvLXf
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025
Early reports implied that the Cybertruck had somehow caught fire and exploded, but this was not true.
We have now confirmed 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.
All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025
On Wednesday evening, Musk, clearly convinced that the explosion was a terrorist attack, noted that the Cybertruck likely hampered the terrorists’ intentions because, despite being parked in front of the lobby, not even the glass doors were broken from the blast, as much of the explosion was contained by the vehicle.
The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.
Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken. https://t.co/9vj1JdcRZV
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 2, 2025
