WH demands probe into malfunction UN escalator as Trump, Melania steps on
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – White House on Wednesday demanded probe into a malfunction escalator at the UN headquarters stalled as President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania stepped on it, according to media reports.
Trump joked about the incident during his UN speech, also criticized malfunctioning teleprompter.
The escalator abruptly stopped moving as the first lady Melania and President Trump chose to climb the stationary escalator rather than use a nearby moving one.
White House has called for an investigation to determine whether the stoppage was deliberate sabotage or a technical fault.
WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that anyone responsible should be fired and investigated immediately.
Video on social media showed the escalator halted suddenly, caused Melania, who was in high heels and standing in front of the president, to jolt forward.
According to a report by Times of London, UN staffers were overheard joking that they might make President Trump walk to the hall to deliver his speech.
One idea reportedly circulated was to tell him the escalator had “run out of money,” forcing him to walk.
Trump has cut about $1 billion in the UN funding.
Trump joked in his speech to the General Assembly that the escalator stopped mid-way and that Melania could have fallen if she “wasn’t in great shape.”
The other controversy at the UN involved a malfunctioning teleprompter.
Trump began his speech by a complained that it wasn’t working. “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working,” he said, claimed he was still happy to be in the General Assembly hall.
“I can only say that whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” he added. Trump then appeared to read from a printed copy of his speech.
Vice President JD Vance made a witty remark about the incident, taking a dig at past leadership:
Vance wrote on X “It’s nice to have a president with a brain! All kidding aside, did everyone notice how despite the lack of a teleprompter, he delivered a clear, reasonable address on US foreign policy?
Trump joked “A bad escalator and a bad teleprompter are all I got from the UN.”
He said the institution is failing to aid peace efforts and criticized the quality of its headquarters building.
“The UN has such tremendous potential. I’ve always said it it has tremendous, tremendous potential. But it’s not even coming close to living up to it,” he said while complained about the broken escalator.
Trump also criticized the UN for allegedly funding illegal immigration into the United States, claimed the organization has aided migrants in “violating and assaulting” the borders of Western countries and providing cash, debit cards, and transportation to help them enter illegally.
