Trump says UN escalator outage was 'absolutely sabotage,' calls for arrests

President Donald Trump on Wednesday asserted that a mechanical failure on an escalator at United Nations Headquarters was “absolutely sabotage,” and he urged authorities to arrest those responsible in connection with the episode that occurred as he and First Lady Melania Trump prepared to address world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The incident happened Tuesday morning when the president and the first lady stepped onto an escalator that abruptly stopped as they reached the bottom, sending Melania Trump briefly forward. Trump, who has long used social media to vent about political opponents and public events, wrote on Truth Social that the outage was part of a cluster of “very sinister events” and that those responsible should face consequences. He described the United Nations visit as marred by missteps that, in his view, amount to deliberate obstruction.

A spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general described one factor in the escalator’s stop as a documented safety feature. Stéphane Dujarric said a videographer from the U.S. delegation had stepped onto the escalator ahead of the president and first lady; as the videographer moved upward in reverse, the escalator halted at the top. He said the incident coincided with a stop in the escalator’s movement and noted that the safety mechanism on the comb step was triggered to prevent people or objects from becoming entangled in the gears. The UN explained that the videographer may have inadvertently activated the safety function, and that security tape from the area should be preserved for review. The Security Service is involved in the investigation.

The White House provided limited public comment on the escalator episode, and the U.N. offered a rare, formal account of the sequence of events. In addition to the escalator trouble, Trump said his teleprompter stopped working during his remarks, leaving him unable to hear himself or audio clearly in the auditorium until about 15 minutes later. He described the scene as “stone cold dark” and said the teleprompter came back online only after a delay that affected his delivery. He added that Melania Trump later confirmed she could not hear him well during the speech.

Trump attributed the teleprompter and audio issues to a coordinated effort and said the problems were unrelated to ordinary mishaps. He told supporters that a thorough investigation should be conducted and that all security footage from the escalator, including the emergency stop button, should be saved for review. He also noted that the Secret Service is involved in the matter and repeated his demand for accountability.

The U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, and officials described the events as a combination of technical malfunctions and human factors surrounding the escalator. The Times of London had reported that some U.N. staffers were overheard discussing the possibility of turning off the escalator, a claim Trump cited as part of his argument that the incidents were deliberate and intended to undermine his speech.

The episode drew attention from U.S. and international observers, who followed a day of high-profile diplomacy at the U.N. headquarters. Trump’s remarks at the General Assembly remain a focal point of his foreign-policy message, and the escalator incident added a dramatic backdrop that some critics said risked overshadowing substantive policy statements.

As the U.N. investigation continues, officials emphasized that safety mechanisms are standard on escalators and can be triggered by various conditions, including the presence and actions of individuals near the device. The White House and U.N. spokespeople said they would cooperate with any findings and that security considerations would be prioritized in any review of the events.

In the broader context, the president’s comments reflect a pattern of asserting political targets and calling for investigations into perceived misconduct tied to his appearances abroad. The UN incident surfaces as Trump navigates criticisms of his handling of international diplomacy and as he seeks to sustain messaging about security and accountability in U.S. public life. Observers cautioned against drawing conclusions about intent without formal reviews, noting that the accounts from the UN and the videographer who accompanied the president at the embassy-level entry point differ in detail but align on the central fact of a sudden stoppage and a subsequent safety explanation.

The incident at the United Nations comes amid a crowded schedule for Trump, whose outreach to foreign leaders has been a cornerstone of his political strategy since returning to public office. While some supporters hailed his willingness to demand transparency and accountability, critics argued that linking routine operational glitches to sabotage could destabilize diplomatic venues and undermine trust in international institutions. The evolving narrative around Tuesday’s events at the U.N. is likely to inform debates over security protocols and the optics of presidential appearances on the global stage.

With the investigation ongoing, Trump’s remarks underscored his broader insistence on accountability for perceived slights or missteps in democratic processes. Analysts noted that the unfolding story will be closely watched for any formal findings from UN officials, as well as from U.S. Secret Service investigators who monitor presidential travel and events abroad. The next steps, including any formal statements or disclosures from the UN and the White House, will help frame the incident’s longer-term significance for U.S. politics and international engagement.