New York, NY — Former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump experienced an unexpected disruption at the United Nations on Tuesday when an escalator carrying them suddenly stopped mid-ride. The incident occurred just before Trump’s scheduled address to world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Escalator Suddenly Stalls Ahead of Trump’s UN Speech
According to eyewitnesses, the escalator at UN headquarters came to a halt around 10 a.m., forcing the former president and first lady to walk the rest of the way to the second floor.
Following the event, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called for a full investigation, suggesting possible sabotage.
“If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately,” Leavitt wrote on X, referencing a report from The Times of London that claimed UN staffers had joked about cutting escalator and elevator access ahead of Trump’s arrival.
Leavitt Suggests Possible Sabotage
Speaking later on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime, Leavitt said the malfunction “appears” suspicious, noting that reports of UN employees mocking the former president’s visit raised questions about intent.
“If we find that these were UN staffers who were purposefully trying to trip up — literally trip up — the President and First Lady of the United States, well, there better be accountability,” she said.
Leavitt also confirmed that the U.S. Secret Service is reviewing the incident.
UN Officials Deny Intentional Wrongdoing
United Nations officials dismissed claims of deliberate interference.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary-General António Guterres, said the stoppage was caused by a safety feature — not sabotage.
“A videographer from the U.S. delegation was walking backward while filming the arrival,” Dujarric explained. “As he reached the top, he triggered the escalator’s built-in safety mechanism designed to prevent injuries.”
He added that technicians quickly reset the machine and that a subsequent investigation confirmed a mechanical safety trigger — not tampering — had caused the stop.
“There was nothing nefarious behind the incident,” Dujarric said.
Trump Jokes About Escalator and Teleprompter Glitch
During his address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Trump lightheartedly referenced the mishap.
“All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the crowd. He joked that things could have been worse “if the First Lady wasn’t in great shape.”
Moments later, Trump encountered a second technical issue when his teleprompter briefly froze. He took the interruption in stride, joking with the audience:
“I can only say that whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” he quipped. “But it’s okay — sometimes you speak more from the heart.”
The teleprompter resumed working minutes later, allowing Trump to continue his speech uninterrupted.
Trump Criticizes the UN in His Address
The former president used his speech to renew long-standing criticisms of the United Nations, calling the organization “ineffective” and accusing it of failing to resolve global conflicts.
“I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help finalize the deal,” Trump said.
The incident added another layer of tension between Trump and the UN, with his team demanding accountability while UN officials insist it was nothing more than a mechanical malfunction.
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