Trump Demands Investigation After Escalator, Teleprompter Malfunctions at UN
1. Escalator Incident at the UN
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump encountered an unexpected mishap at the United Nations on Tuesday when the escalator they were using suddenly stopped. The couple had to walk up the stalled machine just before Trump’s scheduled address to world leaders.
2. White House Reaction
The incident, which occurred shortly before 10 a.m. at UN headquarters in New York City, prompted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to call for an immediate investigation, suggesting the stoppage could have been intentional.
3. Allegations of Sabotage
Leavitt cited reports that some UN staff had previously joked about restricting escalator access during Trump’s visit. On Fox News, she indicated the malfunction “appears” to be sabotage and stressed that anyone responsible should be held accountable. The U.S. Secret Service is also reviewing the matter.
4. UN Officials Respond
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric dismissed any suggestion of wrongdoing, explaining that a videographer walking backward on the escalator triggered a built-in safety mechanism, which temporarily stopped the machine to prevent accidents.
5. Mechanical Explanation
Dujarric clarified that the escalator was quickly reset by an on-site technician and confirmed that the stoppage was purely mechanical, with no deliberate interference. He emphasized there was “nothing nefarious” behind the incident.
6. Trump Addresses the Mishap
During his speech before the 80th UN General Assembly, Trump joked about the escalator and a frozen teleprompter, using humor to address the mishaps while highlighting the first lady’s fitness and improvising remarks that drew laughter from the audience.
7. Broader Context
Trump also reiterated criticisms of the UN, calling it ineffective and contrasting his administration’s foreign policy successes, including ending seven wars, with what he described as a lack of assistance from the organization in facilitating global deals.
