Trump demands inquiry over UN 'triple sabotage' after escalator and teleprompter mishaps

September 25, 2025

During a visit to the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump experienced three technical difficulties that he characterized as "triple sabotage": an escalator stopping as he and the First Lady boarded, a malfunctioning teleprompter during his speech, and audio issues in the auditorium. Trump demanded an investigation from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, calling the incidents "sinister" and suggesting deliberate sabotage. UN officials responded that the escalator's safety mechanism may have been triggered by Trump's videographer, the teleprompter belonged to the US delegation, and the sound system was designed to work through earpieces for translation purposes.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
Attendees/world leaders at the UN General Assembly who may have had difficulty hearing Trump's speech
UN workers mentioned in relation to the escalator incident
Trump's videographer

What action is being taken

Trump is sending a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres demanding an investigation
The Secret Service is involved in investigating the incidents
Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the UN, is echoing Trump's call for an official probe
The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, is raising concerns about deliberate sabotage
UN officials are providing explanations for the technical issues

Why it matters

The incidents are being characterized by Trump as deliberate sabotage during an important international event
It raises questions about security and technical preparedness at the United Nations
The situation has created diplomatic tension, with the US ambassador stating that "the United States will not tolerate threats to our security or dignity at international forums"
The controversy has escalated to involve high-level officials including the UN Secretary General
Trump specifically called for arrests related to the escalator incident, citing an article that claimed UN workers joked about turning off the escalators

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC