Leavitt seeks UN probe into escalator stoppage during Trump UN visit

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday demanded that United Nations officials investigate whether an escalator at UN headquarters was deliberately stopped as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stepped onto it. Leavitt said that if the stoppage was intentional, those responsible should be fired and investigated immediately, citing a Times of London report that staffers had been overheard joking about turning off the escalator so Trump would walk to the hall to deliver his speech. The White House has not released independent corroboration of the Times report, but Leavitt framed the incident as potentially intentional political mischief.

The escalator halted as soon as the couple stepped on, prompting immediate questions about security and protocol. In a brief later statement, UN officials indicated that a safety mechanism was triggered by someone ahead of the president, and that the escalator was reset and returned to service. Farhan Aziz Haq, a UN spokesperson, told The Times that there was no indication of foul play and that the system quickly returned to normal operation. The president and first lady continued with their schedule after the brief disruption.

Leavitt’s post on X, which cited the Times report, emphasizes the administration’s willingness to challenge international bodies when domestic political messaging is at stake. The Times piece described staffers at UN headquarters as having discussed the possibility of disabling the escalator to influence the moment Trump would reach the venue for his remarks. While Leavitt framed the matter as a potential security concern, UN officials characterized the incident as a simple safety-trigger event that was resolved without incident.

The UN’s account, and the absence of reported injuries or further disruption, suggests the episode was a comparatively minor hiccup in a high-profile visit. Yet the episode has already become a talking point in U.S. political discourse about the Trump administration’s relationship with international institutions and how internal staff matters can intersect with headlines about presidential appearances. Observers note that moments like this can be leveraged for political messaging, even when official explanations point to routine safety procedures rather than deliberate actions.

The episode also highlights how information around such incidents travels across outlets and social media, influencing public perception even before official investigations can be completed. For now, the UN maintains that the escalator issue was resolved quickly and that there is no evidence of deliberate action. The White House has not indicated any further steps beyond Leavitt’s call for a formal UN inquiry, and the incident remains a point of friction in a broader narrative about the intersection of U.S. domestic politics and international institutions.

As the White House continues to closely monitor coverage of Trump’s national political activity, the escalator episode serves as a reminder of how minor operational glitches at symbolic venues can be reframed for political purposes. While the UN’s official line remains that the incident was a routine safety event, Leavitt’s demand for a probe ensures the episode will be revisited in subsequent briefings and commentary. The White House’s response to this inquiry will likely shape how future interactions with international bodies are framed in the context of U.S. domestic politics.