Trump Demands Investigation After Escalator, Teleprompter Malfunctions at UN
An escalator carrying President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump malfunctioned at the United Nations headquarters. The sudden stop forced the couple to walk up the stalled machine before the President’s scheduled address.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt demanded an immediate investigation. She suggested the incident might have been intentional, citing a report about UN staffers joking about disrupting Trump’s arrival. On Fox News, she stated there must be accountability if it was sabotage.
The U.S. Secret Service is also reviewing the matter. This response reflects the heightened tensions surrounding the event.
United Nations officials, however, provided a technical explanation for the stoppage. Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said a safety feature was triggered by a videographer from the U.S. delegation. The individual was walking backwards to film the Trumps’ approach.
Dujarric explained that the movement activated a mechanism designed to prevent accidents. He emphasized the malfunction was purely mechanical and that there was “nothing nefarious” about it. A technician reset the escalator after the delegation proceeded on foot.
President Trump later incorporated the mishap into his speech to world leaders. He made a lighthearted joke about the escalator stopping, drawing laughter from the audience. He also quipped that the first lady’s fitness prevented a more dangerous situation.
The incident occurred amid already strained relations between the Trump administration and the UN. During his address, Trump reiterated his criticism of the organization, calling it ineffective. He contrasted his administration’s foreign policy achievements with what he described as a lack of UN support.
