Trump alleges UN escalator outage was sabotage, calls for arrests
The president cites a built‑in safety mechanism and a videographer’s role in the incident, as a teleprompter malfunction marred his UN address.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday intensified his assertion that an escalator outage at the United Nations headquarters in New York was intentional sabotage, urging arrests and a full investigation. The episode occurred Tuesday as Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto the escalator that leads to the Main Speaking Floor during his address to world leaders and diplomats at the U.N. General Assembly.
A U.N. spokesman explained that the escalator stopped after a videographer from the U.S. delegation stepped onto it ahead of the president and first lady. The videographer, traveling backward up the escalator, reached the top as the First Lady and then the president mounted the bottom steps; the escalator stopped at about 9:50 a.m. in the vestibule outside the speaking hall. The incident prompted a review by U.N. staff and security officials.
The U.N. readout described the stop as the result of a built‑in safety mechanism on the comb step, a feature intended to prevent people or objects from getting caught in the gearing. The spokesman added that the videographer may have inadvertently triggered that safety function.
Trump demanded an immediate investigation and called for all security tapes, including footage of the emergency stop button, to be preserved. He also noted that the Secret Service is involved in the matter.
The episode occurred in the same week Trump faced a series of technical hiccups during his remarks at the General Assembly. He said his teleprompter also stopped working during the speech, leaving portions inaudible to those without earpieces, and he recalled that the device kicked in about 15 minutes later. He described the moment as the speech going on in a nearly dark auditorium until the teleprompter resumed.
Trump later tied the outages to a broader accusation, referencing a Times of London report that UN staffers had reportedly joked about turning off the escalator. The UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident.
The White House has played down the escalator incident as an unfortunate malfunction, while Trump has framed it as proof of deliberate obstruction at a major international venue. The U.N. side, citing operational concerns, has suggested the fault was caused by a staff action inadvertently triggered by early arrival documentation, rather than a coordinated effort to disrupt the president’s speech. Officials emphasized that safety systems are routinely tested and documented during high‑profile arrivals, and investigators will review security footage as part of their assessment.
The unfolding narrative underscores the sharp political tensions surrounding Trump’s foreign policy posture as he seeks to portray a contentious stance on international institutions while also highlighting security and communications glitches that can complicate ceremonial moments on the world stage.
