During his recent visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, President Donald Trump faced a series of technical issues that left him visibly frustrated and launching allegations of sabotage. As Trump and First Lady Melania boarded an escalator inside the UN building, the ride unexpectedly halted, forcing them to walk the remaining steps. This incident, followed by a malfunctioning teleprompter and audio problems during Trump’s speech, prompted the president to call for a formal investigation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted at possible intentional interference, referencing an article in The Times of London revealing UN staff members joking about turning off escalators as a prank amid budget cuts. Trump’s social media post described the events as “triple sabotage” and called for the perpetrators to be arrested, demanding all security footage be preserved.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric explained that the escalator stopped because a safety mechanism was inadvertently activated by someone in front of Trump. The teleprompter, operated by the US delegation, experienced technical difficulties unrelated to UN staff.
Despite these explanations, Trump insisted the events were deliberate and involving the Secret Service. The response on Twitter was mixed, with many mocking his reaction as overblown and calling it a “first-world problem” dramatized unnecessarily.
