Tesla Cybertruck explosion at Trump Hotel raises alarms

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump Towers in Vegas on the morning of New Year's Day, killing one and leaving seven injured.

During two media briefings, the police revealed that they are withholding the identity of the deceased, who died while driving the vehicle.

The vehicle was rented in Colorado on the car rental app Turo before being driven to Las Vegas. The truck went along the Las Vegas strip around 7.30 a.m. before it exploded outside the Trump Towers hotel in the morning a couple of hours later.

The police found large canisters of gasoline and fireworks in the trunk of the truck, painting an ominous picture and suggesting the effort was intentional.

The atmosphere in the States hasn’t gotten off to a good start in 2025, especially when you consider the tragic events that unfolded in New Orleans, where another truck mowed down over fifty people on New Year’s Day, killing at least fifteen and injuring thirty-five in the process.

In an evening address, Joe Biden announced that law enforcement would investigate whether there were any links between the two incidents.

Footage has already been doing the rounds on social media with one video in particular showing the flames in a vivid light.

Cybertruck blew up in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Those are our luggage by the door and that’s where we were when it happened. pic.twitter.com/KaVZXfGLNK

undefined ayackle (@kaaaassuu) January 1, 2025

Dots that might need connecting obviously include Elon Musk and Tesla, and Donald Trump and his hotel empire. Furthermore, the feds are looking into whether or not there is a particular link to IS, given that an Islamic State flag was found in the truck at the event in New Orleans.

Both vehicles had been rented on the Turo app and it goes to show how easy it is to pick up a vehicle, especially with no criminal background or obvious signs of being a danger to the public. Perhaps stricter screening of renters could help mitigate future risks.