Trump administration official assaulted at UNGA, White House says

A Trump administration official was assaulted inside the United Nations during the General Assembly gathering in New York on Thursday afternoon, according to the White House. The official, who works in international relations for the Department of Health and Human Services and was serving the U.S. delegation in support of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the department’s leadership at UNGA, was followed into a bathroom, recorded, and subjected to verbal abuse and physical confrontation. The White House said the official is safe and the suspect was arrested, and it noted that the U.S. Secret Service will investigate how the individual gained access to a major national security event.

The incident occurred as U.N. headquarters became a focal point of global diplomacy during the General Assembly. A U.S. U.N. spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the attack is unacceptable and that the United Nations recognizes the need to review its security procedures. The spokesperson said the UN must explain why incidents like this continue to occur against the American delegation and emphasized that the UN will cooperate with authorities during their investigation. The spokesperson also indicated that the UN plans to tighten security measures and to examine what went wrong at this venue during a high-profile international event.

The official described in an exclusive interview that a woman began berating her in a UN hallway, shouting pro-Palestinian comments and shining a bright light in the official’s face. The official sought refuge in a women’s bathroom to escape, but the assailant followed and continued the harassment, with a camera being used to film the encounter. The woman reportedly called the official derogatory names and remained outside the stall, trying to enter, while the light and recording continued. The ordeal lasted about 10 minutes before the official was able to leave the bathroom area. The official characterized the incident as politically charged and noted concerns about security at the United Nations during such a high-visibility event. The NYPD later said the suspect was arrested; it was not immediately clear whether she remained in custody.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital that the assault represented a dangerous failure by the UN to secure a major national-security event. She said the Secret Service would review how the individual gained access to UN premises and pledged accountability for the security lapse. A U.S. UN spokesperson reiterated that the attack was unacceptable and that the United Nations would support the Secret Service investigation, adding that the UN recognizes it needs to reassess its security operations to prevent future incidents against the U.S. delegation.

The broader context for the incident is the ongoing U.N. General Assembly’s 80th session, where world leaders are addressing a range of crises, including Gaza and Ukraine, alongside broader health and development challenges. The United States has been represented by high-level officials at the gathering, and the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has participated in Security Council discussions amid ongoing debates about the U.N.’s role and security posture. The general assembly’s theme this year is “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”

Security officials stressed the need for reforms to prevent similar disruptions at international forums, and U.N. and U.S. authorities said they will pursue a thorough review of security procedures at the world body’s headquarters. Responders from the UN and NYPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The UNGA context and ongoing diplomatic activity at the General Assembly are reflected in additional images from the event, including moments captured during the assembly and a focus on U.S. representation at the UN as officials navigate security challenges and global diplomacy.