Trump says UN escalator outage was 'absolutely sabotage' – calls for arrests
Share and Follow

President Trump urged for arrests to be made regarding an incident at the United Nations headquarters where an escalator abruptly stopped functioning just as he and first lady Melania Trump stepped onto it on Tuesday.

The unexpected halt nearly resulted in the first lady losing her balance and was one of no fewer than three issues Trump, aged 79, observed while he was present in the building to deliver a speech to world leaders and diplomats at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday — Not one, not two, but three very sinister events!” Trump stated on Truth Social Wednesday.

“First, the escalator going up to the Main Speaking Floor came to a screeching halt. It stopped on a dime. It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first. It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly or, it would have been a disaster,” the president continued. 

Trump argued the escalator incident was “absolutely sabotage,” pointing to a Times of London report that UN staffers had been overheard joking that they might switch off the escalator and make Trump walk to the hall to give his speech.

“The people that did it should be arrested!” the president fumed. 

A UN spokesperson suggested a member of Trump’s entourage may be to blame for the stalling of the escalator. 

“In an effort to document their arrival, a videographer from the US delegation stepped on to the escalator ahead of the President and First Lady,” Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said in a statement. “As the videographer, who was traveling backwards up the escalator reached the top , the First Lady, followed by President Trump, each mounted the steps at the bottom. At that moment (9:50am), the escalator came to a stop.” 

“A subsequent investigation, including a readout of the machine’s central processing unit, indicated that the escalator had stopped after a built-in safety mechanism on the comb step was triggered at the top of the escalator,” Dujarric added. “The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing.”

“The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function described above.”

Trump demanded an “immediate investigation” into the incident and said “all security tapes at the escalator should be saved, especially the emergency stop button.” 

“The Secret Service is involved,” the president noted. 

Trump’s teleprompter also stopped working as he delivered his speech, and the president claims his remarks couldn’t be heard by anyone in the auditorium not wearing an earpiece. 

“It was stone cold dark,” Trump said of the teleprompter. “I immediately thought to myself, ;Wow, first the escalator event, and now a bad teleprompter. What kind of a place is this?’” 

The president said the teleprompter “kicked in about 15 minutes later.”

Trump said he learned of the audio issue at the end of his speech, when he asked Melania, “How did I do?” 

“And she said, ‘I couldn’t hear a word you said,’” the president said.  

“This wasn’t a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

The UN did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Pope Leo XIV names James Checchio as successor for embattled New Orleans archbishop Gregory M. Aymond after sex abuse settlement

Pope Appoints James Checchio as New Archbishop of New Orleans Following Aymond’s Departure Amid Settlement

ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday named a successor to embattled…
Jimmy Kimmel makes emotional return to late-night show

Jimmy Kimmel’s Heartfelt Comeback to Late-Night TV

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…
Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body released to family

The Remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez Have Been Returned to Her Family

Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions that may be disturbing. Viewer…
Jimmy Kimmel's pal Jennifer Aniston reacts to host's big TV return

Jennifer Aniston Responds to Jimmy Kimmel’s Exciting TV Comeback

Jimmy Kimmel’s celebrity peers, including his close friend Jennifer Aniston, shared their…
Chris Stirewalt, NewsNation political editor, reacts to Kirk shooting

Republican Lawmakers Propose Featuring Charlie Kirk on a Silver Dollar Coin

WASHINGTON () Two Republican lawmakers are working on a bill to put…
Would-be Trump assassin's daughter loses it outside court

Daughter of Attempted Trump Assassin Experiences Emotional Outburst Outside Courtroom

A chaotic scene unfolded outside court on Tuesday after President Trump’s would-be…
Father and son reel in 650-pound fish in Hawaii

Father and Son Catch Massive 650-Pound Fish in Hawaii

HONOLULU (KHON2) – A Hawaiian father and son duo made a big…
Heaven help them! The rapture didn’t happen as predicted in 'prophet's' viral video — and now true believers are depressed

Disappointed Followers Grapple with Unrealized Rapture Predictions from Viral ‘Prophet’ Video

This “second coming” was third rate! The anticipated Rapture did not take…