Elon Musk has come to the defense of his Tesla Cybertruck after a deadly explosion occurred outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1, killing the driver and injuring seven others. The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism. Despite the tragic outcome, Musk emphasized that the explosion was not caused by the vehicle itself but rather by explosives that had been placed in the truck’s bed. He praised the Cybertruck for its ability to “contain the explosion” and redirect the blast upwards, preventing further damage to the hotel.
According to reports, the explosion took place early in the morning outside the hotel, just hours after a similar incident in New Orleans, where a truck was driven into a crowd, killing 15 people. The driver of the Cybertruck, who has not yet been publicly identified, was confirmed dead after the explosion, and seven other individuals sustained injuries. While the blast caused significant damage to the vehicle, the hotel’s glass doors and surrounding areas were largely unaffected, which Musk attributed to the design of the Cybertruck.
Musk took to social media to reassure the public, claiming that the Cybertruck’s performance in this extreme situation highlighted its safety features. He confirmed that telemetry data from the vehicle showed no issues leading up to the explosion. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Musk wrote, addressing concerns about the vehicle’s safety. He further explained that the blast resulted from explosives or large fireworks placed in the truck’s bed, unrelated to the vehicle’s functionality. This statement was intended to clear up any misconceptions regarding the cause of the explosion and shift the focus away from any possible defects in the Cybertruck’s design.
The incident has attracted widespread attention, especially since the truck was rented through the Turo car-sharing service. The FBI confirmed that both the vehicle used in the Las Vegas explosion and the one involved in the New Orleans attack had been rented via Turo. The car-sharing service has since stated that the renters had no criminal history that would have flagged them as security threats, and they are fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigations unfold.
The timing of this explosion is particularly concerning given the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans, which involved a vehicle intentionally driven into a crowd. Authorities are now looking into whether there is a connection between the two attacks. Law enforcement officials are examining the possibility that the vehicles used in both incidents were part of a coordinated effort. The FBI has been particularly cautious, and investigations are ongoing into whether the attack in Las Vegas could be connected to terrorism, given the use of explosives.
Despite the tragic consequences of the explosion, the Cybertruck’s ability to minimize damage has been a point of focus for Musk. In a tweet following the explosion, Musk made it clear that the vehicle’s design and safety features were not to blame. “Evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack,” Musk stated. “Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken.”
The FBI and local authorities in Las Vegas are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion and its potential links to terrorism. The Trump International Hotel was evacuated following the incident, and several injured individuals were treated for minor injuries. The hotel’s security measures, as well as the quick response from firefighters, helped to minimize the damage to the building. Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, acknowledged the incident on social media, calling it a “reported electric vehicle fire.”
As authorities work to piece together the details of the Las Vegas explosion, the incident has raised important questions about vehicle safety and the potential misuse of rented vehicles in acts of violence. Elon Musk’s defense of the Cybertruck’s performance may alleviate some concerns, but the investigation into the cause of the explosion and the motives behind the attack will continue to capture public attention in the coming days.