Authorities are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas as a possible terrorist attack, with suspicions that explosive materials were intentionally stashed inside the vehicle.
However, tech billionaire Elon Musk is determined to clarify that the explosion was not due to any vehicle malfunction and is threatening legal action against anyone who implies otherwise, according to Politico’s report on Thursday.
Musk’s strong reaction came after right-wing influencer Robby Starbuck criticized media coverage of the incident on Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter). Starbucks took issue with a headline from Business Insider that referred to the event as a “Cybertruck explosion,” arguing that it unfairly damaged Tesla’s reputation.
Starbucks stated, “These headlines are sabotaging @Tesla’s brand by making people think it caught on fire. There’s about 1 Tesla fire for every 130 million miles traveled. Other cars have 1 every 18 million miles.” Musk’s response was blunt, with the billionaire suggesting that legal action might be necessary, writing, “Maybe it is time to do so.”
While electric vehicles, including Tesla models, are generally considered to catch fire less frequently than gasoline-powered vehicles, experts have noted that fires involving electric vehicles—particularly those with lithium-ion batteries—can be more difficult to extinguish. In this case, however, authorities believe the explosion was caused by fireworks packed inside the Cybertruck, not by a malfunction of the vehicle itself.
The driver, an Army Green Beret, who was reportedly a Trump supporter, died from a gunshot wound before the blast occurred. Seven others were injured, but the explosion appears to have mostly directed its force upward.
Musk has been vocal in defending the vehicle, asserting that the Cybertruck’s steel armor made it an unlikely candidate for use in a car bomb. “Cybertruck is the worst possible choice for a car bomb, as its stainless steel armor will contain the blast better than any other commercial vehicle,” Musk stated.
However, some fire experts have raised doubts about Musk’s assessment. One expert, speaking to The Washington Post, explained, “You didn’t really have an explosion as much as you had a bonfire. I’m not at all convinced that the Cybertruck being so strong is the reason it blew upward.” As investigations continue, the debate over the cause of the explosion and the role of the vehicle’s design remains unresolved.