Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after claiming that a series of mishaps during his recent trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York could have put him and First Lady Melania Trump in serious danger.
The former president described the incidents as “triple sabotage,” pointing to a sudden escalator stop, a malfunctioning teleprompter, and audio issues that left much of the assembly unable to hear his speech.
Trump shared his frustrations on Truth Social, calling the events a “real disgrace” and insisting that those responsible should face consequences.
Escalator Incident Leaves Trump Alarmed
The first incident occurred as Trump and the First Lady stepped onto an escalator immediately after entering the UN building.
According to Trump, the escalator “stopped on a dime,” leaving the couple dangerously close to falling.
He emphasized that their grip on the handrails likely prevented serious injury.
Echoing comments from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump labeled the incident “absolutely sabotage” and demanded arrests.
However, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric later clarified that the escalator stopped because of a safety mechanism triggered at the top by a videographer walking backward on the steps, not deliberate interference.
Teleprompter Malfunctions Add to Frustration
Trump also reported that his teleprompter failed during the speech, describing it as “stone cold dark.”
He suggested that the faulty equipment compounded the sense of sabotage he felt after the escalator incident.
The White House, however, was responsible for operating the teleprompter at the time.
Audio Issues Spark Misunderstanding
The third problem, according to Trump, involved the sound in the General Assembly.
He claimed world leaders couldn’t hear his speech unless they used interpreter earpieces.
A UN official clarified that this setup is standard practice to allow translation into multiple languages and has been in place for decades.
Trump said neither he nor Melania were informed about this system beforehand, and he interpreted it as further evidence of sabotage.
Trump Calls for UN Investigation
In response to the incidents, Trump announced he would write to UN Secretary-General António Guterres requesting an investigation and asking that all security footage be preserved.
While the Secret Service was reportedly looking into the escalator event, the agency has not commented further.
Trump Uses Mishaps to Criticize the UN
During his speech, Trump used the escalator and teleprompter issues to underscore his broader criticism of the United Nations.
He questioned the organization’s effectiveness, claiming it had not supported the U.S. in negotiating international deals.
He summarized his takeaway from the visit as “a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter” and continued to express disappointment with the UN’s performance on Truth Social.
UN Provides Context and Safety Details
Dujarric explained that the escalator was quickly reset after the delegation reached the second floor and functioned normally for the remainder of the morning.
The stoppage was caused by a built-in safety mechanism meant to prevent objects or people from getting caught in the escalator gears.
Despite the UN’s explanation, the Trump team has yet to comment on whether they accept this reasoning.
Trump Praises His Own Performance
Even with the technical issues, Trump highlighted the success of his speech, claiming it received “fantastic reviews.”
He suggested that few people could have delivered the speech under such challenging circumstances and continued to criticize the UN’s overall effectiveness in international affairs.