FBI Investigates Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel

Early Wednesday morning, a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with gasoline canisters and firework mortars exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the truck’s driver and injuring seven others.

The incident, as dramatic as it was alarming, has set off a flurry of questions and an FBI investigation into whether it could be linked to a deadly New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans that left 15 people dead. Here’s what we know so far.

A Day of Chaos in Las Vegas

The explosion happened in the valet area of Trump’s Las Vegas hotel around 8:40 a.m., startling visitors and passersby on the bustling Strip.

Witnesses described the shocking scene as flames and smoke poured from the futuristic-looking Cybertruck.

In a report by The Associated Press, one witness said she heard three distinct explosions: the first triggered flames, the second seemed mechanical, and the third caused the area to be evacuated.

Authorities quickly identified the presence of large fireworks and gasoline canisters in the truck’s bed.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, addressed speculation almost immediately, clarifying that the blast had nothing to do with the Cybertruck itself. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Musk assured in a post 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 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

In other words, the truck was functioning normally before it became a mobile bomb.

The truck had been rented in Colorado via the car-sharing service Turo and tracked to Las Vegas using Tesla’s telemetry and charging station footage.

But despite this digital trail, law enforcement is keeping tight-lipped about the identity of the driver until further investigations determine whether this was a deliberate act of terrorism or a tragic accident.

Connecting the Dots to New Orleans

Just hours before the Las Vegas explosion, a man drove a pickup truck into crowds of New Year’s Day revelers in New Orleans’ French Quarter, killing 15 people before being shot dead by police.

While no definitive link has been made between the two incidents, the FBI is investigating whether there’s any connection.

Both vehicles—strikingly—were rented through Turo, and both incidents involved high-profile public spaces.

While authorities haven’t established a direct relationship between the attacks, they aren’t ruling it out either.

“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity,” said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill at a news conference, cited by Reuters, who admitted the circumstances surrounding the Las Vegas explosion raise “lots of questions.”

A Hotel Evacuation and Political Ties

The aftermath of the explosion prompted an evacuation of the Trump International Hotel, with guests relocated to nearby accommodations.

The fact that the incident occurred at a Trump property adds another layer of intrigue.

Trump wasn’t in Las Vegas at the time—he had been at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida with Musk, who has emerged as a close ally and key backer of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

The FBI’s investigation will undoubtedly explore whether the incident had political motivations. “Obviously, a Cybertruck, the Trump hotel—there’s lots of questions that we have to answer,” McMahill added.

Technology Meets Tragedy

The explosion also raises questions about the role of technology in both preventing and enabling such incidents.

Tesla’s telemetry data was instrumental in tracking the truck’s movements, but it couldn’t predict or prevent the catastrophic event.

Similarly, the use of car-sharing platforms like Turo introduces a modern convenience that can also complicate security measures.

In a statement, Turo said it is cooperating with authorities and noted that neither of the renters involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents had criminal backgrounds.

“Our trust and safety team is actively partnering with law enforcement authorities to share any information that could be helpful in their investigations. We do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related,” Turo’s released statement reads.

Wrapping Up

As investigators sift through the debris and piece together evidence, one thing is clear: this story is far from over. Whether this was an isolated act of violence or part of a broader coordinated effort, the implications are unsettling.

With both incidents occurring in high-visibility, public spaces, they underscore the vulnerabilities of crowded areas and the challenges of anticipating and preventing such attacks.

For now, the focus remains on answering the many lingering questions. Was the Las Vegas explosion an act of terror, or a deranged one-off? Could there be a connection to the New Orleans attack? And what role, if any, do political affiliations or high-profile targets play in this unfolding drama?

As we wait for answers, one thing is certain: the combination of technology, politics, and violence makes this a case that will be closely watched in the days and weeks to come.