Donald Trump demands investigation into UN “sabotage” after escalator mishap
President claims multiple technical failures during UN appearance were intentional, calls incident a “disgrace”
Donald Trump has accused the United Nations of orchestrating what he called “triple sabotage” after a series of technical problems, including an escalator breakdown, interrupted his visit to the General Assembly in New York.
When Trump and his wife, Melania, arrived at the UN headquarters earlier this week, an escalator they were using abruptly stopped. The couple looked back in confusion before walking up the remaining steps. The incident quickly drew attention online, with some dismissing it as a minor glitch.
But for Trump, the situation was far more serious. In addition to the escalator issue, his teleprompter failed during his speech, and the sound system experienced interruptions.
Trump’s reaction: “A real disgrace”
Speaking out on Truth Social, Trump accused the UN of deliberately trying to embarrass him.
“A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday — not one, not two, but three very sinister events,” Trump wrote. “This wasn’t a coincidence, this was triple sabotage.”
He called for an official investigation and claimed the incidents show why the UN “hasn’t been able to do the job they were put in existence to do.”
White House and UN responses
According to early reports, White House officials also questioned whether the escalator was stopped intentionally, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying there would be “accountability” if sabotage was proven.
The UN, however, denied any foul play. Officials explained that a safety mechanism had been accidentally triggered on the escalator, causing it to stop.
“Escalatorgate” gains traction
Videos of Trump and Melania stepping off the frozen escalator have since circulated widely online, with some users dubbing the incident “Escalatorgate.” Despite Trump’s sharp criticism, he appeared to joke lightly about the mishaps during his UN speech.
“All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle,” he told delegates. “And then a teleprompter that didn’t work.”
While the UN has dismissed Trump’s claims of sabotage, his demands for an investigation add fresh political drama to what might otherwise have been dismissed as technical errors. Whether “Escalatorgate” remains a footnote or escalates further may depend on how seriously his allegations are pursued.
