Tesla Cybertruck Explodes Outside Trump Hotel Las Vegas, “In a Split Second, There Was an Explosion, My Wife and I Fell to the Ground, We Could Have Been Killed”

It was a vacation you will never forget. 

Imagine that you traveled from Spain to be in Las Vegas for the New Year's celebration. You planned the trip for over a year and are now ready to return home after a great vacation. 

You stayed at the luxurious Trump Hotel Las Vegas and just checked out at the front desk. You grab your bags and move through the revolving front door to catch a cab to the airport. 

That's when you hear an explosion and see flames outside the door. You see a Tesla Cybertruck explode before your eyes. The explosion has such force that it knocks you and your wife, who is in front of you, to the ground. 

Panic ensues as guests run for cover. You see people outside who have fallen to the ground and others running to get away from the flames. What is going on?

That happened on New Year's morning outside the Trump Hotel Las Vegas. Here are a few eyewitness accounts from Fox 5 News. 

"We saw the Tesla Cybertruck right there, and in a split second, boom," says one eyewitness. 

Another eyewitness, Anna Bruce, who was staying at the hotel, says, "It was an explosion out of nothing; it didn't have a why or a what. It was basically there, and then there was a boom; it just happened."

The explosion killed the driver who was inside the Cybertruck and injured seven others who were nearby, the Fox 5 News report said.

The Cybertruck was driven from Colorado to Las Vegas.

The report says that investigators said that charging data revealed the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 am Wednesday. The truck was rented in Colorado and driven to Nevada. Investigators have identified the driver but have not released information. 

The Fox 5 News report says the Cybertruck drove up and down the Las Vegas strip just before 8:40 am, and then it pulled up to the valet from the Trump Las Vegas Hotel. 

Security cameras across the street show smoke billowing from the vehicle, and the contents inside explode into a fiery ball. Investigators said there were gas cans and fireworks found inside the bed of the Cybertruck.

A Las Vegas firefighter says, "419 inside, sprinklers going off inside. We've got three medical patients." The 419 code means they found a person deceased inside the Cybertruck. 

Firefighters found seven injured victims, and two were taken to the hospital. Two bystanders who were close to the explosion were treated and released.  

Firefighters arrive within a few minutes.

The firefighters have trained extensively for this type of fire and put it out quickly.

Las Vegas firefighters worked quickly by covering the Cybertruck with an EV blanket. The thick blanket is used to rob the lithium-ion battery of oxygen to put the fire out and keep the fire from spreading. 

The Cybertruck's body prevented further damage.  

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference that the Cybertruck's exterior (made of 300-series 1.4 mm thick stainless steel) prevented further damage after it exploded in front of the Trump Hotel.

Many guests in the lobby of the Trump Hotel were checking out, and some were returning from the New Year's Eve celebrations. 

The Tyrell's traveled from Spain

Another eyewitness, Oscar Tyrell, and his wife, guests at the hotel visiting from Spain, were in the lobby, about to turn the rotating doors to exit, and said, "The explosion happened, and we saw the Cybertruck there and then, boom." 

"In a split second, there was a second explosion, and my wife and I both fell to the ground. My wife was ahead of me, and we were both shaking because of the experience. We didn't know what happened. And later, we realized we could have been killed," he says. 

A report from Automotive News says that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, said the Tesla senior leadership team is investigating the Las Vegas fire incident. 

"The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now," he said in a post on X, adding, "We've never seen anything like this."

Sheriff Kevin McMahill said, "As you can imagine, with an explosion here on iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all the precautions we need to take to keep our community safe." 

Was the Trump Hotel Las Vegas targeted?

“Obviously a Cybertruck, the Trump hotel -- there are lots of questions that we have to answer,” McMahill said.

FBI special agent in charge Jeremy Schwartz later told reporters that it was not yet clear whether the blast was an act of terrorism.

“I know everybody’s interested in that word and trying to see if we can say, ‘Hey, this is a terrorist attack.’ That is our goal, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Schwartz said.

"We're looking for secondary devices," McMahill said, adding that there did not appear to be any further threat to the community."

Automotive News says Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and a son of president-elect Donald Trump, posted about the incident on X. "Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas," he wrote.

It appears to me that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are both targets.

The Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas appears to be a terrorist act against both Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump. 

Bloomberg News says, "Elon Musk poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, fueling a spending spree that helped Donald Trump win the presidency and securing a new title for himself: the most prolific donor of the election cycle."

Automotive News says that Elon Musk had only been a modest political donor until this year. 

"But the giving has lofted him into Trump's inner orbit: He's become a regular at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago estate and was tapped, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a federal advisory committee that intends to recommend sweeping cuts to government spending and bureaucracy," the report says.

The report says that Musk is worth $361.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and has seen his wealth surge since Trump won the election last month.

Musk could benefit even more.

AN says, "Some of Musk's companies could benefit in Trump's second term. The president-elect tapped Jared Isaacman, a Musk ally and an astronaut for SpaceX, to serve as the next NASA administrator. SpaceX is one of NASA's biggest partners and frequently bids for the agency's contracts."

Conclusion.

It appears the Tesla Cybertruck that was used in a terrorist act on New Year's Day was to send a message to the new Trump administration and Elon Musk. However, the bomber didn't know that the Cybertruck, made of 1.4 mm thick stainless steel, would keep the damage from the explosion to a minimum. It could have been much worse, leaving dozens injured or dead. 

The electric truck likely kept innocent bystanders who were feet away, like Oscar Tyrell and his wife from Spain, from being severely injured or worse. Now, they will go home with an incredible story to tell their grandchildren. 

Check out this Tesla Cybertruck story.

I Bought a Tesla Cybertruck, But I Didn’t Check the Cost of Insurance, Now My New Truck Costs More Than Half of My Mortgage. Read my report here for Rebecca’s amazing story. 

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Fox 5 News