UPDATE: Elon Musk Confirms Cause of Trump Tower Cybertruck Explosion

Elon Musk has just provided an update on the Cybertruck that burst into flames in front of Trump Tower in Las Vegas earlier today.

In a post on X, he said that the Cybertruck explosion was caused by a bomb or fireworks.

After Tesla investigated, all vehicle telemetry was positive.

Here’s what Elon Musk had to say:

We have now 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.

All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025

From KLAS Las Vegas:

Billionaire Elon Musk responded on social media to the news of a Tesla Cybertruck exploding in front of President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day. One person was killed and 7 were injured.

“We have 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. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion, according to the post on Musk’s X account that was sent out around 2:12 p.m.

A few hours earlier, another post on his X account stated “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. Will post more information as soon as we learn anything. We’ve never seen anything like this.”

Musk who owns the social media platform was responding to an image of the Cybertruck in flames that was posted on Musk’s account by another user.

Musk is the CEO of Tesla and the largest owner of the stock. He strongly supported Donald Trump’s run for the presidency and in return, President-elect Trump named him to co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

Here’s a new photo of the Cybertruck after the explosion:

NEWS: Law enforcement officials have released images of the exploded Cybertruck and the leftover fireworks and gas tanks. The truck itself helped contain the blast and held up extremely well.

Authorities believe the items in the bed were connected to a detonation system… pic.twitter.com/Jf0zPl8KlA

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 2, 2025

NEW FOOTAGE: “The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet, because it had most of the blast go up, through the truck and out… The glass doors at the Trump hotel were not even broken.” pic.twitter.com/XtztqmZAYr

— America (@america) January 2, 2025

It looks like this was an intentional explosion.

CNN is reporting that the Cybertruck was blown up by a detonation system, which the driver triggered.

🚨BREAKING: CNN says the Cybertruck explosion at Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas was triggered by a detonation system controlled by the driver.
pic.twitter.com/v13TI09VQT

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 1, 2025

From CNN:

Authorities believe fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel were connected to a detonation system controlled by the driver in the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday morning.

The incident is being investigated as a possible terrorist act, according to a law enforcement official who has been briefed on the investigation.

At a news conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said a vehicle fire was reported at the hotel just after 8:40 a.m. Crews arrived to find a 2024 Cybertruck engulfed in flames, he said.

“There is one deceased individual inside the Cybertruck and I don’t know whether it is a male or a female at this time,” McMahill said.

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Seven other victims sustained what McMahill described as “minor” injuries as a result of the explosion.

Video shared on social media appears to show the car engulfed in smoke as it is being hosed down.

Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, also confirmed that his team is involved in the investigation.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo wrote on X that his office is coordinating with authorities and will ensure they have any necessary resources available.

The Cybertruck was rented on the car rental company Turo, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. CNN has reached out to the company.

Surveillance video shows a driver passing by the Trump Hotel in Vegas about an hour before the car explodes, and then circling back near the end of that hour and stopping in front of the hotel, where the car explodes several seconds later, the official told CNN.

Authorities are exploring whether there is any connection between the explosion and the attack in New Orleans, where a suspect rammed into a crowd with a truck rented on Turo, though one has not been determined yet.

We’ll keep you updated on any further developments as they unfold…