On January 1, 2025, an explosion in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas claimed the life of one person and left seven others with minor injuries, according to local authorities. The incident involved a Tesla Cybertruck, the iconic electric pickup truck produced by Elon Musk’s company

The Incident

The explosion occurred around 8:40 a.m. (local time) outside the hotel owned by the Trump Organization. Firefighters from Clark County and the Las Vegas Police Department, who promptly responded to the scene, confirmed these figures during a press conference. A police vehicle was stationed near the secured perimeter surrounding the establishment, highlighting the scale of the precautionary measures.

Ongoing Investigation

Footage shared on social media shows the explosion emitting a massive cloud of smoke accompanied by pyrotechnic bursts. Anonymous sources cited by ABC News revealed that fireworks mortars were found inside the Cybertruck. Investigators are working to determine whether the explosion was accidental or deliberate.

Elon Musk responded on the social media platform X, stating that his teams were investigating the incident, adding, “We’ve never seen anything like this.” In a follow-up post, he claimed the explosion was likely caused by “large fireworks and/or a bomb,” ruling out any issue with the vehicle itself.

Official Reactions

The Trump Organization confirmed the incident in a statement, expressing gratitude to emergency services for their swift response. Outgoing President Joe Biden was also briefed on the situation by the White House.

Troubling Context

This incident occurred just hours after a deadly attack in New Orleans. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former U.S. military member, is suspected of driving into a crowd with a vehicle, killing at least ten people and injuring 35 others. The FBI has classified this act as terrorism.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill emphasized that all necessary precautions were being taken to ensure community safety: “As you can imagine, with an explosion here on our iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we remain extremely vigilant.”