During the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Donald Trump faced multiple technical problems that he called a “triple sabotage.” He said a stopped escalator, a teleprompter failure, and audio issues were deliberate attempts to undermine him.
Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to express his outrage. “A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday — Not one, not two, but three very sinister events!” he wrote.
He described the escalator stopping as dangerous. “It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first. It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly or, it would have been a disaster,” Trump said during his speech. He also said the teleprompter initially did not work and that the audio in the auditorium was “completely off,” making it hard for world leaders to hear his remarks.
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The UN responded to the claims. Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN would cooperate fully with US authorities to find out what caused the incidents. A UN spokesperson explained that the escalator stopped because a safety mechanism was triggered, possibly by a videographer in the US delegation.
Trump continued to insist the events were sabotage. He referenced a report from the London Times that said UN staffers joked about turning off escalators and elevators for his arrival. “The people that did it should be arrested!” he said.
The White House also called for action. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X, “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.” She shared the article from The Times noting the jokes about the escalators.
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.
The Times reported this on Sunday.👇 pic.twitter.com/NitsWbGYG0
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 23, 2025
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the embassy formally requested explanations from the UN. He mentioned the interruptions in Portuguese interpretation and stressed that “the United States will not tolerate threats to our security or dignity at international forums. These lapses are unacceptable and symptomatic of a broken institution that pose serious safety and security risks.”
The United States will not tolerate threats to our security or dignity at international forums. We expect swift cooperation and decisive action.
— Ambassador Mike Waltz (@USAmbUN) September 24, 2025
Trump said he would send a letter to the UN demanding an investigation and preservation of security footage. “This wasn’t a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN,” he said. “They ought to be ashamed of themselves. I’m sending a copy of this letter to the Secretary General, and I demand an immediate investigation.”
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
