Tesla Cybertruck explodes in front of Trump hotel: What we know

If you were anywhere near Las Vegas today, you know there was chaos due to two incidents, including a Tesla Cybertruck exploding in front of the Trump Hotel. Fremont Street is a popular destination and the center of a reported possible hostage situation. However, the news comes after video evidence showed a Tesla truck on fire in what was initially speculated to be a terrorist attack. Officials have not confirmed whether terrorism was involved as the investigation is ongoing.

According to multiple reports, at around 8:40 a.m. on January 1, 2025, a Cybertruck caught fire outside the Trump Resort in Las Vegas. The New York Times stated that one person was confirmed dead in the explosion and at least seven people were reportedly injured. Officials also claimed it was a mixture of “pyrotechnics, gas canisters and camping fuel” that was used as an “explosive system” method in the attack.

Earlier in the morning, in New Orleans, Louisiana, a man reportedly carrying an ISIS flag on his truck drove through crowds celebrating New Year’s Eve, killing at least 10 people. As chaos erupted in both cities, authorities tried to determine whether the two incidents were related. However, investigators in Las Vegas said they believed the Tesla explosion was an “isolated incident.” Nonetheless, the New York Times also reported that both the Cybertruck and the vehicles used in the New Orleans event were rented through the same app, Turo.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill took immediate action to alert the public about the fire. “Obviously, a Cybertruck, Trump Hotels — we have a lot of questions to answer,” he said. “There is a deceased person in the Cybertruck. I don’t know if it’s a male or a female at this time.” According to reports, there is a video outside the Trump hotel. In the video, the Cybertruck can be seen driving around the resort for about an hour, and then Parked in front of the hotel and exploded. , their injuries were “minor.”

The FBI is also actively investigating. FBI agent Jeremy Schwartz declined to explicitly call the incident a terrorist attack in an interview with reporters. “I know everyone is interested in this word,” he said. “And trying to see if we can say, ‘Hey, this was a terrorist attack.'” That’s the goal and what we’re trying to do.

Additionally, as the identity of the driver remains a mystery, evidence suggests the Cybertruck was rented in Colorado. It reportedly took firefighters just minutes to arrive at the scene after the explosion. The Trump Hotel was immediately evacuated and guests were placed at nearby resorts. “There does not appear to be any further threat to our community here at this time,” McMahill added.

At the same time, Tesla boss Musk posted information about the Cybertruck fire on X (formerly Twitter). “We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of a rented Cybertruck and had nothing to do with the vehicle itself,” the billionaire wrote. “All vehicles at the time of the explosion The telemetry results were all positive.” President Donald Trump also expressed his “heartfelt” thanks to Las Vegas officials.

Additionally, a spokesperson for the Turo app issued a brief statement. “We are actively working with law enforcement to investigate both incidents,” they said. Reuters added that the company did not believe the driver behind the New Orleans or Las Vegas incidents had a criminal background.

Social media went into a frenzy, sharing images and footage of the Tesla fire. The Cybertruck fire was visible from all angles, and some footage was filmed inside the Trump hotel. Guests said they had no idea what was happening – many saw only a cloud of smoke in their rooms. Some travelers in the hotel lobby were able to capture horrific images of the flare, prompting a variety of comments as we enter the new year. See more from news coverage of the explosion below.