Cameras never miss a thing. That’s bad news when you’re Donald Trump, stuck on a frozen escalator in front of the world.
As Trump and Melania entered the United Nations headquarters in New York, the escalator decided it had had enough and stopped the moment they stepped on.
Melania, dressed in a sharp white pantsuit, quickly walked up the stalled steps with ease, while Trump shuffled behind her. People nearby simply used the stairs, which suddenly seemed like the smarter choice.
Watch the incident below:
Here’s when the UN escalator stopped working the second Trump & Melania got to it
(The teleprompter stopped right when he started his speech also) pic.twitter.com/fxmDetY3Yb
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) September 23, 2025
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This small embarrassment set the stage for what came next. When Trump finally stood before the General Assembly, another glitch arrived. His teleprompter failed at the very start, leaving him stranded in silence. For about 15 seconds, he looked around the room, clearly unsettled, before awkwardly greeting his wife from the stage with, “Hello, Madam First Lady.”
Trying to recover, Trump joked that whoever was running the machine was “in big trouble.” He then added, “I don’t mind making the speech without a teleprompter… you speak more from the heart.” The room gave a few polite laughs, but the unease was clear. A president fumbling for words at the world’s biggest stage is never a good look.
🚨OH SHIT: A visibly upset Trump says his teleprompter isn’t working as the UN delegation erupts in laughter:
“Whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble” pic.twitter.com/8SKBhUlPB2
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 23, 2025
When the screen finally came back to life, Trump wasted no time returning to his usual tone. He claimed to have “ended seven wars” and scolded world leaders for not giving him enough credit for peace deals.
He then shifted to immigration, declaring, “It’s time to end the failed experiment of open borders. You have to end it now. I can tell you, I’m really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.”
That line didn’t land well. People in the room and many online called it rude and embarrassing. A U.S. president standing at the United Nations and telling other countries they’re “going to hell” was undiplomatic in the worst way.
As if to underline the comedy of errors, Trump circled back to the escalator fiasco. He told the leaders, “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle. If the first lady wasn’t in great shape, she would have fallen. But she’s in great shape. We’re both in good shape, we both stood.”
The crowd laughed a little, but it only made the day look even more awkward.
Featured image via X screengrab
