On New Year’s Day, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulting in one fatality and seven minor injuries, according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

During a press briefing on Friday evening, law enforcement shared multiple video angles of the incident. The footage revealed gasoline canisters, camp fuel, and large firework mortars in the vehicle, which authorities believe were connected to a detonation system controlled by the driver. The Cybertruck, rented in Colorado, was tracked using Tesla’s charging stations and a license plate scanner that recorded its arrival in Las Vegas around 7:30 AM PT. It remained in front of the hotel for only 15 seconds before the explosion.

The FBI joined the investigation, evacuating the hotel to search for additional threats. Sheriff McMahill assured the public that there appeared to be no further danger.


At approximately 8:40 AM PT, the 2024 Cybertruck pulled up to the hotel lobby, emitting smoke before it exploded. Emergency crews arrived within minutes and extinguished the fire in under an hour. Videos shared on social media showed the vehicle engulfed in flames near the hotel entrance, with witnesses reporting a loud explosion and windows shaking from the blast.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire or identified the deceased person inside the Cybertruck. FBI Special Agent Jeremy Schwartz stated that the investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed the incident on social media, stating that the explosion was unrelated to the Cybertruck itself. Musk claimed Tesla accessed the vehicle’s data remotely, confirming the explosion was caused by fireworks or a bomb in the truck bed. He also revealed that the Cybertruck had been rented through Turo, a peer-to-peer car rental service, and suggested the incident might have been intentional.

In a post on X, Musk wrote, “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.”

The incident coincides with reports of Musk spending time with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, fueling speculation about their relationship. According to The New York Times, Musk has been staying at Trump’s Florida estate since Election Day.

This event also follows a tragic terror attack in New Orleans, where a rented pickup truck drove into a crowd, killing 15 people. Authorities are exercising caution in Las Vegas, citing the New Orleans attack as a reason for their thorough search for secondary devices.

Despite these concerns, Sheriff McMahill reassured the public, saying, “We believe everything is safe now.”

Witnesses at the scene described the moments leading up to the explosion. One bystander recounted seeing the vehicle lower itself before the blast, initially mistaking the incident for fireworks before realizing it might be a bomb.

Eric Trump thanked first responders for their quick action: “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.”

The investigation is ongoing as authorities piece together the events leading to the explosion.