Donald Trump Comments on UN Escalator Glitch
The President of the United States is once again in the news — this time regarding what he referred to as “a real disgrace” at the United Nations. Donald Trump is seeking explanations following a series of shocking incidents that marred his prominent UN appearance. In a pointed message on Truth Social, the President asserted that not just one, but three distinct occurrences took place during his visit — issues he claimed were intentional and orchestrated. Escalator Incident: A Jolt Before the Speech. Trump states that the trouble began even before he reached the podium.
According to his account, the escalator transporting him and First Lady Melania Trump to the main speaking platform came to an unexpected stop, threatening to send them tumbling forward onto the metal steps. “It was only because we were each gripping the handrail tightly, or it would have been a catastrophe,” he wrote. He alleged it was “absolutely sabotage,” referencing a London Times article that suggested UN staff had joked about disabling escalators and elevators to compel him to use the stairs. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt backed his assertion, sharing the article and stating, “If someone at the UN deliberately halted the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they must be terminated and investigated immediately.”
Triple Sabotage: Escalator, Teleprompter, and Sound
In his social media message, Trump maintained that the escalator issue was merely the first of three nefarious incidents. He claimed his teleprompter “went completely dark,” compelling him to deliver the initial 15 minutes of his speech without any assistance. Subsequently, he stated, the audio system in the hall malfunctioned — world leaders could reportedly hear him only through interpreter earpieces. After the speech, when he inquired of Melania how it went, she reportedly told him she had heard nothing.
“It was not merely a coincidence — this incident represented a case of triple sabotage at the United Nations. They should feel a sense of shame,” Trump asserted. He mentioned that he had dispatched a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, demanding an immediate inquiry and insisting that all security footage — particularly those surrounding the emergency stop button on the escalator — be preserved. Furthermore, he indicated that the Secret Service was currently investigating the situation.
UN Provides a Different Perspective
In contrast, the UN offered a markedly different account of the situation. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the escalator’s failure was not the result of malicious actions but rather due to a safety mechanism within the escalator’s “comb step” being activated. Dujarric elaborated that the data from the escalator’s central processing unit confirmed that the safety feature had been triggered. He noted that this safeguard is intended to prevent objects or individuals from becoming ensnared in the mechanism and may have been inadvertently activated by a videographer from the U.S. delegation who was filming the couple while walking backward.
Regarding the teleprompter situation, UN officials clarified that the President’s team had operated that device independently, not the UN. Concerning the sound system, the UN pointed out that speeches in the General Assembly are typically transmitted through interpreter earpieces, which could account for why some audience members reported not hearing Trump.
Day of the Speech: From Embarrassment to Diplomacy
Despite the technical difficulties, the agenda for the day continued as scheduled. The 80th session of the UN General Assembly commenced with statements from the Secretary-General and the Assembly President. Trump was set to deliver his speech shortly thereafter and engage with various world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Argentine President Javier Milei. Additionally, he was to facilitate multilateral discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders.
At the podium, Trump promptly acknowledged the teleprompter malfunction, stating, “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working.” He then humorously remarked, “Whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” and shifted to reading from printed notes until the device was operational again.
During his address, Trump connected both the escalator and teleprompter issues to what he described as broader shortcomings of the UN. “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle … and a bad teleprompter,” he remarked to the assembly, eliciting laughter and murmurs.
A Clash of Narratives: Sabotage or Misfortune?
In his grievances, Trump contended that the incidents revealed more profound issues within the UN — deficiencies in security, competence, and a lack of respect for the United States. He stated that he would hold UN personnel responsible if any wrongdoing was verified, and he conveyed his irritation regarding what he views as institutional disrespect.
However, the UN’s clarification and technical data present a different perspective. Their narrative attributes the escalator stoppage to an accidental safety trigger, the teleprompter malfunction to the operations of the President’s own staff, and the apparent audio failure to the routine use of interpreter earpieces. The UN also highlighted that mechanical and escalator failures are not uncommon within the intricate infrastructure of the UN headquarters.
As investigations progress, both parties are establishing firm stances. Trump and his associates assert that the incidents were deliberate, demanding accountability. Conversely, the UN insists that they were merely accidents or equipment safeguards functioning as intended.