Escalator Incident Sparks Outrage
Donald Trump didn’t handle technical hiccups at the UN very well. During a visit to the General Assembly in New York City, the president grew frustrated when an escalator carrying him and Melania suddenly stopped. They were forced to walk the rest of the way.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the incident might have been intentional. She pointed to a Times of London report claiming UN staff joked about shutting off escalators and blaming budget cuts tied to reduced U.S. funding.
Technical Troubles Continue
The escalator wasn’t the only problem. Trump also complained about a malfunctioning teleprompter and audio issues during his speech. According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the escalator stopped because someone in front of Trump triggered a safety mechanism. As for the teleprompter, he noted it was White House–operated and not under UN control.
Trump Rages on Truth Social
Trump vented on Truth Social, calling the glitches “sabotage.” He claimed world leaders couldn’t hear his speech without interpreter earpieces. He demanded an investigation and insisted the Secret Service was already involved. “This wasn’t a coincidence,” he wrote. “This was triple sabotage at the UN. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”