Trump jokes about UN teleprompter, escalator during UN General Assembly speech

President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to frame his record on national security and diplomacy, while injecting humor about production glitches in the UN building. In his first in-person appearance at the annual gathering since taking office, Trump opened with a light jab about the on-stage equipment and then pivoted to his preferred talking points on U.S. sovereignty, allied burden-sharing, and what he described as a dangerous global agenda.

Within moments, world leaders laughed as he acknowledged the malfunctioning escalator and teleprompter. "Thank you very much, I very much appreciate it," he said as he took the stage. "And I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working," he added, prompting laughter. He also teased the person operating the teleprompter, saying, "whoever's operating this teleprompter is in big trouble." He recounted that the escalator had broken during his ascent with Melania Trump and joked that "these are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter."

Throughout the day he highlighted peace efforts and criticized UN roles in global conflicts, saying, "I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of these countries and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help in finalizing the deal." He reiterated another moment from the stage about the escalator, noting that "if the first lady wasn't in great shape she would've fallen. But she's in great shape, we're both in good shape. We both stood." "These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter," he added. The remarks drew audible laughs from the audience, according to coverage from Fox News.

Trump hailed efforts for peace and warned European nations against continuing to tolerate illegal immigration, while taking aim at the global climate agenda, calling it a "con job." He said his administration would press for conditions on United Nations funding tied to reforms, and he argued that foreign aid should come with measurable accountability. His remarks were carried by Fox News, which highlighted the light-hearted moments before turning to policy critiques.

The exchange captured by observers and network coverage underscores the challenge Trump faces at the UN: balancing a combative, America-first stance with the expectations of a roomful of world leaders who monitor U.S. policy for its global consequences. Trump spoke amid a backdrop of ongoing debates over migration, climate policy, and U.S. commitments to allied security arrangements. The UN General Assembly convenes annually to address international security, human rights, and development issues, and the gathering is often a barometer of how the United States is seeking to shape the agenda.

As the day progressed, Trump’s rhetoric emphasized sovereignty and skepticism toward multilateral approaches, while still calling for peace and stability. He urged European governments to confront illegal immigration and criticized what he described as a global climate agenda funded by wealthy nations. The White House described the address as a defense of American interests and a call for rebalancing burdens among allies, though critics argued it mirrored a pattern of confrontation with international institutions.

The UN is hosting leaders from around the world, and the exchange on stage featured moments of levity that contrasted with serious topics on security and governance. Trump’s team framed the remarks as a visible assertion of U.S. priorities on the world stage, while opponents warned that rhetorical clashes at the General Assembly could complicate diplomacy.