Escalator Incident at the UN: What Happened During President Trump’s Visit

On September 23, 2025, an unexpected mechanical hiccup at the United Nations headquarters in New York City turned into a political flashpoint when an escalator abruptly stopped as President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto it. The moment, captured on video and widely circulated online, has since sparked investigations, conspiracy theories, and pointed remarks from both the White House and UN officials.

The Incident

As the presidential delegation arrived for Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly, the escalator leading to the second floor halted suddenly. Melania Trump, in high heels, was seen jolting forward before calmly walking up the stationary steps, followed by the president. Trump later joked during his speech, “If the First Lady wasn’t in great shape, she would’ve fallen. But she’s in great shape. We’re both in good shape.”

The moment when the escalator stopped immediately upon Trump entering it.

UN’s Explanation

The United Nations quickly launched an internal investigation and released a statement clarifying the cause: a built-in safety mechanism on the escalator’s comb step had been triggered—likely by a videographer from the U.S. delegation who was walking backward to film the arrival. The system is designed to prevent people or objects from being caught in the gearing, and the escalator resumed operation shortly after the delegation reached the second floor.^{1 2}

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that the incident was accidental and not sabotage. A technical readout confirmed the safety feature had functioned as intended.³

White House Reaction

Despite the UN’s findings, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt demanded further investigation, suggesting the possibility of deliberate interference. She cited a Times of London article claiming UN staffers had joked about disabling elevators and escalators to inconvenience the president, referencing Trump’s past funding cuts to the UN.^{1 4}

Leavitt posted on X (formerly Twitter): “If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately.”

The Secret Service is reportedly reviewing the incident as part of standard protocol.

Technical Troubles Continue

The escalator wasn’t the only malfunction that day. President Trump also faced a broken teleprompter during his speech, which he addressed with characteristic bravado: “These are the two things I got from the United Nations—a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.” UN officials later clarified that the teleprompter was operated by the White House, not the UN.^{3 5}

Public and Political Reactions

The incident drew commentary from across the political spectrum. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office mocked the president online, while Vice President JD Vance praised Trump’s ability to deliver a coherent speech without a teleprompter.

Meanwhile, social media buzzed with speculation, humor, and criticism—turning a minor mechanical glitch into a symbol of broader tensions between the Trump administration and the international body.

What’s Next?

While the UN has closed its investigation, the White House’s concerns linger. Whether the escalator stoppage was a simple accident or a moment of symbolic friction, it has added another layer to the complex relationship between President Trump and the United Nations.

For now, the escalator has resumed normal operation—but the political escalations may be far from over.

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References (5)

1UN Breaks Silence On Trump Escalator Incident. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/un-breaks-silence-on-trump-escalator-incident/ar-AA1NdHZk

2Trump White House wants investigation into stopped escalator at UN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/un-responds-to-trump-about-escalator-malfunction/ar-AA1NcTV2

3UN probe finds Trump escalator halt was accident, not plot against president. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/un-probe-finds-trump-escalator-halt-was-accident-not-plot-against-president/ar-AA1NbWAl

4Was that Trump escalator snafu sabotage? UN responds to question.. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/was-that-trump-escalator-snafu-sabotage-un-responds-to-question/ar-AA1NdYd3

5UN escalator stalls as Donald Trump, wife Melania step on it; White House demands probe. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/un-escalator-stalls-as-donald-trump-wife-melania-step-on-it-white-house-demands-probe/ar-AA1NdHwj