On September 24, 2025, the article titled “Trump angered by ‘bad escalator’ at UN as White House vows to investigate malfunction | Donald Trump” reports that Donald Trump appeared to laugh off a series of technical issues during his United Nations visit, but US officials are taking the incidents seriously.
- Trump laughed off escalator and teleprompter issues
- US officials suspect deliberate attempt to humiliate Trump
- UN states escalator stopped due to safety mechanism trigger
- White House investigates possible intentional disruption
- Trump linked incidents to UN’s perceived failings
- Escalator was quickly reset and returned to operation
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump boarded an escalator at UN headquarters, which suddenly stopped after a brief ascent. The incident was caused by a safety mechanism triggered by someone in front of Trump, according to UN officials. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt criticized the possibility of intentional sabotage, referencing a Sunday London Times report that UN staff joked about turning off escalators due to US funding cuts. Several conservative commentators also speculated about a plot against Trump. Later, Trump’s teleprompter failed at the start of his speech, leading him to joke about the UN’s support and linking the two incidents to perceived UN shortcomings. He claimed to have ended seven wars but received no support from the UN, only an escalator that stopped and a malfunctioning teleprompter. The UN clarified that the escalator’s safety system was triggered inadvertently, and the escalator was quickly reset. The UN did not comment on the teleprompter issue, stating it is operated by the White House.
- Launch a thorough investigation into the escalator malfunction and review security footage.
- Assess whether the teleprompter failure was technical or intentional, involving White House coordination.
- Increase security measures at future UN visits and high-profile international events.
- Monitor official statements for updates on the investigation’s findings and potential repercussions.
These incidents highlight ongoing tensions between the US and UN, with implications for diplomatic protocol and security protocols at international gatherings. Further investigations will determine if these malfunctions were accidental or part of a coordinated effort, influencing future US-UN relations and security policies.
