President Donald Trump has expressed outrage over a series of technical issues encountered during his recent visit to the United Nations General Assembly. In a candid social media post, Trump detailed what he described as a “triple sabotage” incident, which included an escalator malfunctioning with him and First Lady Melania Trump on board, a teleprompter failure during his speech, and audio problems within the auditorium.
Trump stated his intention to dispatch a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, formally requesting a thorough investigation into these events. He emphatically declared them to be “triple sabotage” and a “real disgrace,” implying that they were not mere accidents but deliberate acts. The President also suggested that security footage from the escalator incident should be preserved, particularly the emergency stop button, and indicated that the Secret Service is involved in looking into the matter.
Echoing the President’s concerns, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz called the incidents “unacceptable” and urged for a swift probe. He emphasized that the United States would not tolerate any threats to its security or dignity on the international stage.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously voiced suspicions that the escalator incident may have been intentional. She stated that if anyone at the UN deliberately caused the escalator to stop, they should be fired and investigated immediately.
A UN official, speaking anonymously, suggested that the sound system was engineered to provide translated speeches via earpieces for attendees. Separately, a UN spokesperson indicated that the videographer accompanying Trump might have accidentally activated the escalator’s safety mechanism while filming.
The President also experienced further technical difficulties with the teleprompter, which he noted was not working correctly, although it was later restored. He humorously, yet pointedly, remarked that whoever was operating the teleprompter would be in “big trouble.” A UN official later clarified that the White House was responsible for the teleprompter, having brought their own laptops to connect to the UN’s system.
Trump also highlighted audio issues, stating that “the sound was completely off in the Auditorium” and that world leaders might not have been able to hear anything unless they utilized the interpreters’ earpieces.