Trump's UN General Assembly Speech Draws Attention to Melania's Reaction, Escalator Mishap

President Donald Trump delivered a blistering address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, portraying the UN as failing to live up to its potential and warning Europe that its policies on migration and energy could undermine its future. The speech followed a dramatic arrival at UN headquarters, during which Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were seen climbing a broken escalator. Trump asserted that he had ended seven wars and criticized the UN for not helping to finalize deals, saying, "The United Nations wasn't there for us. They weren't there."

Melania Trump's reaction drew attention as she appeared disengaged during portions of the tirade, with her gaze fixed away from the podium while Trump attacked migration, climate policy and what he called a "hoax" on climate change. The first lady belatedly clapped when cameras panned to her, then largely remained still as the room applauded and Trump pressed his point.

On stage, Trump continued to fault the UN’s approach, saying, "The United Nations wasn't there for us. They weren't there." He boasted that he had ended seven wars and argued that the UN had been slow to help finalize deals. "What is the purpose of the UN? It's not even coming close to living up to that potential," he said, before quipping, "These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter." He also recalled a personal anecdote about offering to renovate the UN complex for $500 million, saying the project "produced a far inferior product" after the UN chose another direction.

Trump tied his UN grievances to broader foreign-policy themes, warning that countries that fail to curb migration and rethink energy policies risk national decline. "Your countries are going to hell," he told the audience, adding that he was "really good at this stuff" but that he worried about Europe and its trajectory. "I'm the President of the United States, but I worry about Europe. I love Europe, I love the people of Europe."

Earlier at the gathering, Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva exchanged brief words after Lula’s remarks and then crossed paths again minutes later. Trump said he would meet Lula next week and claimed they had embraced during their exchange; he described their relationship as having "great chemistry" and said Lula "liked me." He criticized Brazil for "taking advantage" of the United States under previous administrations and tied that to tensions over censorship and other issues.

Also drawing attention were other backstage moments: Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape reportedly yanked out his live-translation earpiece in the middle of Trump's remarks, flashing a grin as the president continued his tirade. A member of the Russian delegation was seen pulling out a phone and appearing to film the speech. The sequence of moments followed days marked by slips, including the escalator incident that set a defiant tone for Trump’s remarks.

Analysts said the speech underscored the president’s "America First" approach in a multilateral setting and highlighted the tension between a US administration seeking domestic political capital and a world body that often takes a more consensus-driven approach to geopolitics. By railing against migration, energy policy and perceived UN noncooperation, Trump aimed to project strength at a moment when allies are recalibrating strategies amid evolving global challenges.