Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Outside Donald Trump Hotel Sparks Chilling Questions Over Driver’s Past

Alex Harrington | Jan 2, 2025

A Tesla Cybertruck is seen parked outside of the xAI facility in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. / Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

A Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas early on New Year's Day led to the tragic death of Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old former Army veteran. The shocking incident has incited chilling questions about Livelsberger's past, his connections, and the sequence of events leading to the incident.

Taking place at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sammy Davis Jr. Drive at around 8:40 a.m., the explosion set off alarms, drawing attention from local and federal authorities.

The explosion was not without victims; seven individuals sadly sustained injuries. Two required treatment at University Medical Center Southern Nevada. These details were confirmed in a news conference by Las Vegas County Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

However, the biggest questions emerging from this catastrophic event revolve around Livelsberger's motives, the potential terror-related aspects, and possible connections to other violent incidents. The authorities are treating it as a potentially isolated act of terrorism. Still, there are no firm conclusions yet, with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives joining the investigation.

Notably, authorities discovered firework mortars and camp fuel canisters in the vehicle, suggesting premeditated planning.

Matthew Livelsberger's background adds layers of complexity to the narrative. As a former Army veteran, his life in Colorado Springs and his rental of the Cybertruck in Colorado, after which he drove to Las Vegas, weave a puzzling tale. Key to the investigation is his alleged connection to Shamsud Din Jabbar, who only hours earlier, was responsible for an attack in New Orleans resulting in 15 fatalities. Both served at the same military base, raising serious questions about possible coordination.

The public's gaze was soon drawn to the location of the explosion—the Trump International Hotel, part of President-elect Donald Trump's empire. The repercussions of an incident occurring at one of Trump's properties resonate politically, not least because Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is a key backer of Trump and set to assume a role as an adviser in his administration. This compounds the intrigue surrounding the event. Kevin McMahill, the sheriff, pointed out the topical relevance of the Cybertruck and the hotel: “Obviously a Cybertruck, the Trump hotel, there are lots of questions we have to answer.”

Witnesses caught up in the blast recounted the event's terrifying power. One witness, staying at the nearby Resorts World, said the following:

“It was shaking the glass, it was so loud,” and later, “I looked out and see smoke and me and my wife booked it out of there.”

Such firsthand accounts paint a vivid picture of the chaos that ensued. Elon Musk, chiming in from a different angle, deflected attention from Tesla's technology.

“The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.”

The explosion's nature and the materials found in the truck suggest a deliberate act of violence rather than an accident. However, conclusive evidence about the attack's motive remains elusive as investigators continue to piece together the evidence.

The connections between Livelsberger, Jabbar, and the attacks in different cities are central to understanding the broader implications. As authorities scour for clues, these links may uncover powerful insights into a potential network or common motives behind such catastrophes. 

Sheriff McMahill encapsulated the ongoing uncertainty by stating, “At this time, we are investigating a number of leads, and I’m not prepared to release any of that information to you just yet. I can tell you that there are seven victims right now that sustained injuries from the explosion.”