UN Event Technical Problems Lead Trump to Seek Review
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump faced an unexpected situation at the United Nations in New York City on Tuesday when the escalator they were riding suddenly stopped. The couple was forced to walk the remaining steps before Trump’s scheduled address to world leaders. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called for an investigation, suggesting that if the stoppage was intentional, those responsible should face consequences.
The U.S. Secret Service also began reviewing the matter. United Nations officials, however, quickly denied any wrongdoing. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, explained that a safety feature caused the malfunction. A videographer from the U.S. delegation reportedly triggered the stop when walking backward to film the Trumps’ arrival.
The escalator’s safety mechanism automatically halted movement to prevent injury, and it was reset shortly afterward. During his address, Trump addressed the incident with humor, joking that the escalator “stopped right in the middle” and that it was fortunate the First Lady was “in great shape.” His lighthearted comment drew laughter from the audience.
The speech also faced a brief technical issue when the teleprompter froze, prompting Trump to continue speaking off-the-cuff before joking that the operator was “in big trouble.” Despite the interruptions, Trump delivered his full remarks, reaffirming his criticisms of the United Nations and calling for greater accountability and effectiveness within the organization. The incidents added an unscripted touch to a speech that already captured global attention.
