A fiery explosion erupted outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, setting an electric vehicle ablaze. The dramatic incident, captured on social media, has left authorities and the public reeling. The Clark County Fire Department confirmed it responded to a vehicle fire in the hotel’s valet area. Tragically, one individual lost their life, and seven others sustained injuries when a rented Tesla Cybertruck, reportedly carrying fireworks, ignited and exploded, according to officials.
President Biden Addresses the Nation
In his first statement following the incident, President Joe Biden remarked, “We’re closely monitoring the explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are rigorously investigating, including any potential connection to the attack in New Orleans.”
Biden emphasized the lack of definitive information thus far, adding, “I’ve directed my team to ensure federal, state, and local law enforcement have every resource needed to expedite the investigation in New Orleans and guarantee there’s no further threat to the American people. We stand with the residents of New Orleans as they begin the arduous process of recovery.”
Elon Musk Clarifies Cybertruck’s Role
Addressing speculation about the Cybertruck’s involvement, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to dispel rumors. Musk stated, “We’ve confirmed the explosion was caused by extremely large fireworks and/or a bomb transported in the bed of the rented Cybertruck. The vehicle itself had no mechanical faults. All telemetry data was clear at the time of the incident.”
FBI: Questions Outnumber Answers
Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office, admitted the investigation is still in its infancy. “I know the public has many questions,” Schwartz said during a press briefing. “Unfortunately, we don’t have many answers at this time.”
Eric Trump Praises Emergency Responders
Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and son of President-elect Donald Trump, commended first responders for their swift actions. Posting on X, he expressed gratitude to the fire department and local law enforcement for their professionalism during the crisis.
Iconic Location
The explosion occurred outside the 64-story Trump International Hotel, located just off the bustling Las Vegas Strip and across from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.
(With inputs from agency reports)