Cybertruck containing fuel, fireworks explodes at Trump's Vegas hotel
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The Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel Las Vegas' entrance on Wednesday, killing the driver and wounding seven people, law enforcement officials said.
The big picture: Clark County/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a Wednesday afternoon briefing that "camp fuel canisters and large firework mortars" were found in the back of the truck. It wasn't immediately clear how they ignited.
- Investigators discovered via tracking through Tesla's charging stations that the truck was rented in Colorado using Turo, the car rental app that was also used in the New Orleans attack that killed at least 15 people.
- McMahill said there was no immediate indication of a connection between the two events, but "we are investigating every aspect of this."
- President Biden said in televised remarks Wednesday evening that law enforcement officers were investigating whether there was "any possible connection" between the Tesla Cybertruck explosion and the New Orleans attack. "Thus far, there's nothing to report on that," he said.
State of play: Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on his X platform earlier Wednesday that he had "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."
- The LVMPD said in a Wednesday morning statement on X urging people to avoid the area that officers were investigating the incident.
- Biden directed his team to offer any federal assistance needed in the incident, per a White House pool report Wednesday afternoon.
- Musk said in another post that the "whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now" and he'd post more information as soon he learned more.
- Musk, who will co-lead President-elect Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), added: "We've never seen anything like this."
- Video from the scene shows the Cybertruck engulfed in flames just outside the entrance to the hotel.
- McMahill said at a Wednesday briefing that the person inside the vehicle had died and that it was reported that those wounded in the incident had minor injuries.
What we're watching: "We're very well aware of what has happened in New Orleans with the event that occurred there and the number of victims there and the additional IEDs," McMahill said, in reference to the Bourbon Street pickup truck attack.
- "So as you can imagine, with an explosion here on iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking all of the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe," he said.
- "We're looking for secondary devices ... there does not appear to be any further threat to our community now."
What they're saying: Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, shared a company statement on X noting the electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas.
- "The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority," added the second-eldest son of the president-elect.
- "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism."
- Representatives for the FBI, the Trump Organization, the White House and the president-elect did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
