US President Donald Trump highlighted multiple technical issues during his visit to the United Nations, including a stalled escalator, a malfunctioning teleprompter, and audio problems in the auditorium, which he described as “sabotage.”
Trump said the escalator to the main speaking floor stopped abruptly as he and First Lady Melania ascended, though both held the handrails and avoided injury. He also noted that his teleprompter failed for about 15 minutes, forcing him to deliver his speech without it, and added that the sound system in the hall was reportedly not working, leaving many attendees unable to hear him.
“This was absolutely sabotage, as noted by a day’s earlier “post” in The London Times that said UN workers joked about turning off an escalator,” Trump said through a post on Truth Social.
At the conclusion of his speech, Trump noted that US First Lady Melania, seated in the front row, told him she could not hear “a word he said.” He characterized the series of technical problems, including the escalator stoppage, teleprompter failure, and audio issues, as deliberate, referring to them as “triple sabotage” and stating that those responsible “ought to be ashamed of themselves.”
Trump called for an investigation, requesting that security footage from the escalator, including the emergency stop button, be preserved, and confirmed that the Secret Service is involved. He said he was sending a copy of his concerns to the UN Secretary-General.
The United Nations released a statement Tuesday in response to President Donald Trump’s social media posts about technical issues during his visit to UN headquarters in New York, where an escalator carrying him and First Lady Melania unexpectedly stopped after moving a short distance.
Also read: Glitch or a snub? UN escalator stops the moment Donald Trump & Melania Trump step on it
“The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing. The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function described above,” the UN statement said.
Trump said the escalator to the main speaking floor stopped abruptly as he and First Lady Melania ascended, though both held the handrails and avoided injury. He also noted that his teleprompter failed for about 15 minutes, forcing him to deliver his speech without it, and added that the sound system in the hall was reportedly not working, leaving many attendees unable to hear him.
“This was absolutely sabotage, as noted by a day’s earlier “post” in The London Times that said UN workers joked about turning off an escalator,” Trump said through a post on Truth Social.
( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) September 24, 2025
( Donald J. Trump - Sep 24, 2025, 5:46 PM ET )
A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday — Not one, not two, but three very sinister events! First, the escalator going up to the Main Speaking Flo… pic.twitter.com/p20lbWK9aY
At the conclusion of his speech, Trump noted that US First Lady Melania, seated in the front row, told him she could not hear “a word he said.” He characterized the series of technical problems, including the escalator stoppage, teleprompter failure, and audio issues, as deliberate, referring to them as “triple sabotage” and stating that those responsible “ought to be ashamed of themselves.”
Trump called for an investigation, requesting that security footage from the escalator, including the emergency stop button, be preserved, and confirmed that the Secret Service is involved. He said he was sending a copy of his concerns to the UN Secretary-General.
Here’s when the UN escalator stopped working the second Trump & Melania got to it
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) September 23, 2025
(The teleprompter stopped right when he started his speech also) pic.twitter.com/fxmDetY3Yb
The United Nations released a statement Tuesday in response to President Donald Trump’s social media posts about technical issues during his visit to UN headquarters in New York, where an escalator carrying him and First Lady Melania unexpectedly stopped after moving a short distance.
Also read: Glitch or a snub? UN escalator stops the moment Donald Trump & Melania Trump step on it
“The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing. The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function described above,” the UN statement said.
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