Everyone is on high alert.
A vehicle fire broke out outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. This incident comes amid heightened national security concerns following a suspected terror attack in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the fire, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in one fatality and seven non-critical injuries, as reported by ABC News.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Trump Hotel Las Vegas acknowledged the incident, noting that it involved an electric vehicle in the hotel’s porte cochère. The statement emphasized the hotel’s commitment to guest and staff safety and expressed gratitude to local emergency responders for their quick action.
Local news outlet KTNV reported that the fire started around 8:40 a.m. Pacific time. A witness recounted seeing a Tesla Cybertruck that “exploded with dozens of fireworks.” The explosion caused significant damage and prompted an evacuation of the property. As of Wednesday afternoon, hotel guests had not yet been allowed to re-enter.
The Cybertruck involved in the incident is produced by Tesla, whose CEO, Elon Musk, is a known supporter of Donald Trump. Musk has previously been tapped to co-chair a proposed government efficiency initiative aimed at reducing unnecessary federal spending. Given Musk’s association with Trump, the incident raises questions about whether it may have had a political motive.
The vehicle fire occurred shortly after a separate event in New Orleans, where a man drove a pick-up truck into a crowd gathered for a New Year’s Eve celebration, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries. The truck displayed an Islamic State flag, leading to initial speculation that the attack was terror-related. While New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell initially described it as a terrorist attack, FBI officials initially disputed that characterization. However, the FBI later confirmed they were investigating the event as an act of terrorism.
The New Orleans incident ended in a standoff when the suspect began shooting at police officers, who returned fire, fatally wounding him. Two officers sustained injuries during the exchange and were hospitalized in stable condition.
