Melania Trump Has Message For Everyone After New Year's Day Violence
01/02/2025 04:52 PM
Former and future First Lady Melania Trump has weighed in on the multiple tragic New Year's Day incidents that occurred Wednesday.
In the early morning hours Wednesday, a 42-year-old man named Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 in what authorities say was an act of terrorism. Later, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver, 37-year-old Matthew Alan Livelsberger of Colorado, and injuring seven others.
"The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now," Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X/Twitter. "Will post more information as soon as we learn anything. We've never seen anything like this."
On Wednesday night, Melania Trump shared a statement on social media reacting to the horrific events.
"The incidents of violence that have impacted our communities are deeply concerning. The brutality must stop," her statement reads. "My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families who are experiencing such profound grief and loss. Let us strive for a future where peace prevails."
Authorities continue to investigate both the New Orleans terrorist attack and Las Vegas cybertruck explosion, with the FBI believing Jabbar acted alone in when he mowed down innocent New Year's Eve revelers on Bourbon Street.
As for Livelsberger, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference that the U.S. Army servicemember was found with handgun near his feet and had shot himself in the head before the explosion happened.
The blast was caused by a "combination of fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel in the bed of the vehicle were detonated by a device controlled by the driver," police said.
Many speculated that the two incidents were related, since Jabbar and Livelsberger both served in the U.S. Army, but thus far, no connection has been found.
"At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas," FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia said Thursday.
Related: Melania Trump Turns Heads With Her New Year's Eve Dress
