A Tesla Cybertruck exploded into flames early Wednesday morning outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one person inside the vehicle and injuring seven others nearby. The incident is under investigation as a potential terrorist attack, authorities said.
The explosion occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. local time, right outside the hotel’s glass entrance doors, according to Clark County/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
The Cybertruck, reportedly rented through Turo, was engulfed in flames shortly after pulling up to the hotel’s porte cochère, officials said. Sheriff McMahill confirmed smoke was observed coming from the vehicle moments before the explosion.
Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Touchstone stated that seven bystanders suffered minor injuries, with two transported to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Efforts are ongoing to recover the remains of the person inside the vehicle, whose identity and gender have not yet been determined.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been named a co-leader of former President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, denied that the incident was caused by the Cybertruck itself.
“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,” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The FBI has joined the investigation and is working alongside local law enforcement to determine if the explosion was intentional. Authorities are examining whether the incident is linked to the New Orleans truck attack hours earlier, in which a rented pickup truck plowed into New Year’s Eve revelers, killing at least 15 people. Both vehicles were rented through Turo.
The Trump International Hotel was evacuated, and guests were relocated to Resorts World Las Vegas. Social media videos showed thick black smoke billowing around the hotel, with sirens and loud blasts heard in the background.
Mary Lescano Paguada, a tourist from San Antonio staying at the Trump hotel, said she initially dismissed the explosion but quickly realized the severity of the situation as law enforcement responded.
“Once we reached the lobby, there was screaming, and staff told us to get out and not to breathe the smoke,” Paguada said. Guests were prohibited from returning to their rooms as officials secured the scene.
In a statement shared by Eric Trump on X, the Trump Organization expressed gratitude to first responders for their swift action. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority,” the statement read.
The incident has drawn attention to the high-profile relationship between Musk and Trump. Musk recently pledged $277 million to Trump’s campaign and other Republican candidates, making him a key ally in Trump’s proposed second administration.
The investigation remains active, with authorities working to determine the motive and whether additional threats are present.
