Tesla CEO Elon Musk played a pivotal role in the investigation of an explosion involving a rented Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel. Police confirmed that Musk’s assistance, including surveillance footage from Tesla’s charging stations, helped track the suspect behind the blast. As authorities continue their probe, they suggest the driver may have military ties, though their identity remains withheld.
BY PC bureau
Las Vegas law enforcement investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel credited the vehicle’s robust construction for mitigating the impact of the blast. Police noted that while the explosion could have been far more devastating, the Cybertruck’s design directed the force upwards, sparing significant damage to the building.
Kevin McMahill, Sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, explained how the Cybertruck’s structural design helped contain the blast within the hotel valet area.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>🚨UPDATE: The Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside of Trump Tower (Trump International Hotel) in Las Vegas on New Year's Day is now being investigated as a possible act of terrorist attack! <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Terroristattack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Terroristattack</a> <br><br>Thanks Joe Biden! No one is safe under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris! <a href=”https://t.co/SB9FbMrFsU”>pic.twitter.com/SB9FbMrFsU</a></p>— AJ Huber (@Huberton) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Huberton/status/1874556002424815693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
“The Cybertruck absorbed most of the explosion’s force, channeling it upward and away from the building,” McMahill told CNN. “The front glass doors of the Trump Hotel, located directly in front of the explosion site, remained intact.”
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>NEW: Video shows Tesla Cybertruck explosion at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. No word yet on the cause <a href=”https://t.co/tR9UabrsH4″>pic.twitter.com/tR9UabrsH4</a></p>— BNO News (@BNONews) <a href=”https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1874542092770549884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Elon Musk Aids Investigation
McMahill also praised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his assistance in the investigation. Musk provided surveillance footage from Tesla charging stations that helped track the suspect.
“We’re grateful to Elon Musk for offering critical information,” McMahill said. “The data and footage he shared significantly aided our efforts to identify the driver.”
Musk confirmed via social media that the explosion was unrelated to the vehicle itself. “The incident was caused by large fireworks or an explosive device in the truck bed. All vehicle telemetry was normal at the time,” Musk posted on X.
Connections to Trump and Tesla
McMahill acknowledged the layers of intrigue surrounding the incident. “It’s a Tesla truck, parked outside Trump Tower, and we know Elon Musk has ties to President-elect Trump. There’s a lot to unpack,” he said.
Timeline of Events
The Cybertruck, rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. After circling Las Vegas Boulevard for an hour, it stopped outside the Trump Hotel and exploded. Surveillance footage showed the vehicle passing the hotel earlier before returning moments before the blast.
Police released footage from the incident, including clips of charred gasoline containers and fireworks mortars found in the vehicle. Social media videos captured the vehicle engulfed in smoke as firefighters extinguished the flames.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities believe the driver may have military experience. While the vehicle renter’s identity is known, the driver’s name has not been disclosed.
The incident coincided with a tragic event in New Orleans, where a pickup truck rammed into New Year’s revelers, killing 15 and injuring many others. Both vehicles were rented via Turo, an online car-sharing platform, which is cooperating with investigators.
Coincidence or Coordination?
Despite similarities between the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents, McMahill stated that investigators currently view the shared rental platform as a coincidence. “We are actively investigating potential connections between these events and other global attacks,” he said.
