During a recent visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration over a series of unexpected technical problems — including a stopped escalator — that occurred during his appearance.
According to reports, Mr. Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump were forced to walk the remaining steps after an escalator inside the UN building came to a sudden halt. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary at the time, cited a report from the Times of London suggesting that some UN staff members had previously joked about shutting off escalators as a response to U.S. funding cuts.
In addition to the escalator issue, Mr. Trump reportedly experienced difficulties with a teleprompter and audio problems during his speech. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, explained that the escalator stopped because someone ahead of Mr. Trump had accidentally triggered a safety mechanism. He also noted that the teleprompter was operated by the White House, not UN staff.
Following these incidents, Mr. Trump shared a statement on Truth Social, calling the sequence of issues “sabotage” and claiming that many world leaders could not hear his address unless they were using interpreter earpieces. He said the matter was being looked into by the Secret Service and that he planned to send a formal letter to the Secretary-General requesting an investigation.
The reaction online was swift. Many social media users commented on Mr. Trump’s response, with some questioning the seriousness of the escalator incident and others suggesting it was an overreaction. One user wrote that the episode was an example of “first-world problems,” while another described the former president’s behavior as “thin-skinned.”
Despite differing opinions, the event has sparked widespread discussion about how public figures handle unexpected challenges at high-profile international gatherings.
