The Trump Hotel Cybertruck Bomber Was an Active Duty Green Beret

On January 1, 2025, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of its driver and injuries to seven bystanders. The driver was later identified as 37-year-old Master Sergeant Matthew Alan Livelsberger, an active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces soldier with a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades.

A Distinguished Career in Special Forces

Matthew Livelsberger was born on July 22nd, 1987, in Bucyrus, Ohio.  He had an impressive almost 20-year career as a U.S. Army Green Beret, serving in various roles that showcased his dedication, skill, and bravery. Enlisting in January 2006, he began his journey in the military as a Special Forces candidate, starting with the Green Berets. His initial role as a communications specialist involved managing complex military communication systems. Livelsberger served on active duty until March 2011, followed by a brief stint in the National Guard and Army Reserve. By December 2012, he returned to active duty as a Special Operations soldier.

Throughout his career, Livelsberger served with the 10th Special Forces Group, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Germany. He rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and played a key role in various counter-terrorism missions and training programs for allied forces. His extensive experience in high-pressure situations made him a respected figure within the Special Forces community.

Livelsberger completed multiple overseas deployments, including two tours in Afghanistan, as well as missions in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, and the Congo. These deployments allowed him to operate in some of the world’s most challenging environments, honing his expertise in special operations and building alliances with international partners.

His outstanding service earned him numerous accolades. Livelsberger received two Bronze Stars, one with a valor device for extraordinary bravery under fire. He was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and an Army Commendation Medal with valor, highlighting his courage and commitment during combat operations. These awards reflected the deep respect and trust placed in him by his superiors and peers.

In addition to his military achievements, Livelsberger was committed to education. He earned a degree in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis from Norwich University, graduating summa cum laude. His academic accomplishments paralleled his military expertise, as he contributed significantly to interagency operations while serving as an Operations Sergeant at Special Operations Command Forward. For his efforts, he was honored with the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.

At the time of his death in January 2025, Livelsberger was on approved leave from his duty station in Germany. His career was marked by extraordinary achievements, making his service to the United States military both impactful and inspirational.

The Las Vegas Incident

On December 28, 2024, Livelsberger rented a Tesla Cybertruck in Denver and drove it to Las Vegas. The vehicle was loaded with fireworks, camping fuel, and gasoline canisters. The explosion occurred shortly after Livelsberger arrived at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Authorities later revealed that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before the blast, with a handgun found near his body inside the vehicle.

The incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, although Las Vegas police believe Livelsberger acted alone. Investigators are also examining potential links to a recent attack in New Orleans involving another Army veteran, which raises questions about whether there might be a connection between the two events. The FBI has joined the investigation, searching locations tied to Livelsberger in Colorado Springs to uncover more about his actions and possible motivations.

Potential Motivations and Connections

The motives behind Livelsberger’s actions remain unclear. Family members described him as a patriotic individual and a supporter of Donald Trump, making the seeming target of his attack particularly perplexing. His uncle expressed shock upon learning of his involvement, noting that Livelsberger was a talented “supersoldier” skilled with explosives.

It is impossible to tell exactly what would drive a man to do something like this. The best I can do at this point is speculate based on limited facts. We know Livelsberger was married, and his wife, Sara, was, according to her social media posts, not a huge Trump fan. See Below.

According to ABC News, Livelsberger’s wife had told authorities that he had been away from their Colorado Springs home since Christmas following a dispute over allegations of infidelity. She says she had not heard from him for several days before his suicide. And that’s exactly what I believe it was: a suicide. By all indications, Livelsberger was not trying to hurt anyone else. He knew that the blast in a cybertruck would be generated upward and not outward. This is indicated by the fact that the doors of Trump’s hotel were not damaged even though the truck was parked right in front of them.

The incident occurred just hours after a terrorist attack in New Orleans, where an Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, drove a rented truck into a crowd and opened fire, resulting in multiple fatalities. Both individuals rented their vehicles through the same car-sharing application, Turo, and had military backgrounds with overlapping service periods at Fort Liberty (Bragg) in North Carolina and deployments in Afghanistan. Despite these similarities, the FBI has stated that there is “no definitive link” between the two attacks.

The social media self-proclaimed experts are really having a field day with this one. There are theories that since they both served at one time at Fort Bragg, were in the Army, and served in Afghanistan, there has to be some connection between the two men. Makes perfect sense, right (sarcasm)?

No, that’s just plain nuts. I was stationed at both Fort Bragg and Carson during my time in the Army. By that logic, I’m in on it too.

Investigations and Speculations

Authorities, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are treating the Las Vegas explosion as a potential terrorist attack. However, without a clear motive or evidence linking Livelsberger to extremist ideologies, the rationale behind his actions remains speculative. Some experts suggest that factors such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personal crises, or undisclosed grievances may have contributed to his drastic actions. As of now, no concrete evidence has emerged to confirm these theories.

Again, we are left with speculation. You don’t have to be a genius to see some kind of symbolism in a car from an Elon Musk-owned company being blown up in front of a hotel owned by Donald Trump. By all accounts, Livelsberger was a Trump supporter. I’m sure this pissed off his wife to no end. Reports say the two were fighting. Maybe his very public suicide in front of the Trump Hotel in Vegas was a kind of an F-you to his wife. Again, this is just me speculating. I may be way wrong.

Stange things happen. When I was stationed at Fort Carson a couple decades ago a family down the street from me were having an argument. The father was a member of 10th Group, back from a rough deployment. He and his wife were having a domestic dispute (unfortunately this was very common) and she wanted to call the police on him. He informed her that if she did that he’d kill himself. Well, she called his bluff and called the cops. He grabbed a pistol and went out to his front yard to wait for them. His family followed, complete with young kids. Suffice it to say he made good on his promise and took his life there in front of everyone once the police were in sight.

I’m sure the entire Special Forces community is wondering what happened with MSG Livelsberger. In time, more details will come out, but it will never make sense. His is an act born of deep pain.

Summation

The case of Master Sergeant Matthew Alan Livelsberger is a tragic enigma. A decorated soldier with a commendable service record, his final act stands in stark contrast to the values he upheld throughout his military career. As investigations continue, the hope is that a clearer understanding of his motivations will emerge, providing closure to his family and the broader community affected by this unforeseen tragedy.

**This is a developing story. Please check back with SOFREP for more details as they are made available.

-DOL