Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
After technical disruptions during his UN appearance, Trump orders Secret Service probe and demands accountability
Former President Donald Trump has accused the United Nations of orchestrating a coordinated sabotage during his appearance at the General Assembly.
He said an escalator carrying him and Melania abruptly stopped, his teleprompter failed at the outset of his address, and the hall’s audio went silent, forcing him to improvise his speech.
In a post on his platform, he called these “three very sinister events” and demanded arrests and preservation of surveillance footage.
Trump also announced that the U.S. Secret Service is actively investigating the incidents.
He alleged that the escalator halted “on a dime,” nearly causing a dangerous fall, and that the teleprompter was inoperative for its first fifteen minutes.
He claimed the audio in the assembly hall was turned off entirely, leaving world leaders unable to hear him except through interpreters’ earpieces.
The U.N. has rejected the sabotage narrative.
Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the escalator’s built-in safety mechanism was triggered after a U.S. delegation videographer moved backward while filming, causing an automatic stop.
He further clarified that the teleprompter was managed by the White House, not U.N. staff, and that the sound system was functioning, with translation delivered via earpieces to delegates.
An anonymous U.N. official corroborated that responsibility for the teleprompter lay with Trump’s team.
In recent weeks, U.N. escalators and lifts have seen intermittent shutdowns as part of cost-saving measures amid a financial shortfall, including delayed funding from the United States.
Maintenance and mechanical failures in older systems are reportedly not rare at U.N. facilities.
In response to Trump’s claims, the White House has called for full investigations and possible accountability.
As the dispute intensifies, the U.N. has agreed to preserve camera recordings while exploring internal mechanical logs and procedural reviews.
The unfolding confrontation underlines the political theater of international diplomacy at the U.N. and raises fresh questions about institutional credibility and protocol in the digital age.
He said an escalator carrying him and Melania abruptly stopped, his teleprompter failed at the outset of his address, and the hall’s audio went silent, forcing him to improvise his speech.
In a post on his platform, he called these “three very sinister events” and demanded arrests and preservation of surveillance footage.
Trump also announced that the U.S. Secret Service is actively investigating the incidents.
He alleged that the escalator halted “on a dime,” nearly causing a dangerous fall, and that the teleprompter was inoperative for its first fifteen minutes.
He claimed the audio in the assembly hall was turned off entirely, leaving world leaders unable to hear him except through interpreters’ earpieces.
The U.N. has rejected the sabotage narrative.
Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the escalator’s built-in safety mechanism was triggered after a U.S. delegation videographer moved backward while filming, causing an automatic stop.
He further clarified that the teleprompter was managed by the White House, not U.N. staff, and that the sound system was functioning, with translation delivered via earpieces to delegates.
An anonymous U.N. official corroborated that responsibility for the teleprompter lay with Trump’s team.
In recent weeks, U.N. escalators and lifts have seen intermittent shutdowns as part of cost-saving measures amid a financial shortfall, including delayed funding from the United States.
Maintenance and mechanical failures in older systems are reportedly not rare at U.N. facilities.
In response to Trump’s claims, the White House has called for full investigations and possible accountability.
As the dispute intensifies, the U.N. has agreed to preserve camera recordings while exploring internal mechanical logs and procedural reviews.
The unfolding confrontation underlines the political theater of international diplomacy at the U.N. and raises fresh questions about institutional credibility and protocol in the digital age.