President Donald Trump is not pleased with the United Nations (UN) after his recent address. Trump is demanding an investigation following you that he described as a “triple sabotage” during his visit to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, taking to social media to claim that a series of technical mishaps, involving a stopped escalator, a teleprompter failure and audio issues, were deliberate acts meant to undermine him.
“A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday — Not one, not two, but three very sinister events!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday laying out the series of events.
UN Secretary General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Wednesday evening: “The Secretary-General informed the U.S. Permanent Mission that he had already ordered a thorough investigation, and he conveyed that the UN is ready to cooperate in full transparency with relevant U.S. authorities on this matter to determine what caused the incidents referred to by the United States.”
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During his speech on Tuesday morning in New York, Trump opened by referencing the technical issues, saying, “These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.” The president elaborated further in his social media post, introducing the issue of “completely off” audio.
“No wonder the United Nations hasn’t been able to do the job that they were put in existence to do,” Trump said in his post as he criticized the technical problems.
“First, the escalator going up to the Main Speaking Floor came to a screeching halt,” he said. “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.”
“This was absolutely sabotage,” he continued, referencing a report in the London Times over the weekend that said UN staffers had joked about turning off escalators and elevators for Trump’s arrival. “The people that did it should be arrested!”
A United Nations spokesperson on Tuesday said that “a built-in safety mechanism” on the escalator was triggered, causing it to stop when President Trump and first lady Melanie Trump attempted to use it.
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During a presidential address at the United Nations, the responsibility for technical arrangements—like escalators, teleprompters, audio systems, and security logistics—is typically shared among several parties:
- United Nations Facilities Management and Operations: The UN’s own staff and engineers oversee the maintenance and operation of the physical infrastructure, including escalators and elevators inside the UN headquarters.
- UN Protocol and Conference Services: This department coordinates the setup of speeches, teleprompters, sound systems, and overall event logistics to ensure smooth proceedings.
- External Contractors and Technical Vendors: The UN often hires specialized external companies to manage audio visual equipment and technical support during major events.
- Security Teams: Both UN security and visiting country security teams coordinate closely to ensure the safety of the dignitaries and manage access and movement within the building.
While the UN is ultimately accountable for the venue and operations, seamless execution requires precise coordination among all involved. Technical failures, such as escalator stoppages or teleprompter malfunctions, are often caused by safety mechanisms or equipment issues rather than intentional sabotage.