A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside President-elect Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to seven others. The incident occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. local time, when the Cybertruck was seen emitting smoke before the explosion, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Sheriff Kevin McMahill indicated that investigators suspect the incident was intentional, especially in light of a parallel terror attack in New Orleans that claimed multiple lives earlier the same day (The Hill).

Authorities found that the Cybertruck had been rented using the Turo app, similar to the truck involved in the New Orleans attack. An improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered in the vehicle related to that incident, leading to heightened security alerts across Las Vegas. Sheriff McMahill stated, “We are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe,” emphasizing the importance of vigilance in the wake of such events.

Following the incident, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and an ally of Trump, offered his support to the investigation. He acknowledged, “I have to thank Elon Musk specifically,” said Sheriff McMahill, as Musk provided critical information about the vehicle's locking mechanisms and its tracking data through Tesla charging stations (The Hill).

Investigators continue to explore the possibility of terrorism while clarifying that the Cybertruck's design may have mitigated the explosion's effects. “The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards,” Musk noted in another post. Fortunately, despite the explosion, no significant structural damage was reported at the hotel.

Local police are working diligently to identify the driver and determine if any connections exist between the Las Vegas event and the earlier attacks in New Orleans.