Overview
- Secretary‑General António Guterres acknowledged receiving Trump's letter and directed an exhaustive internal investigation, with the UN pledging full transparency and cooperation with U.S. authorities.
- A UN technical check, including a readout of the machine's CPU, indicated the escalator stopped after an integrated safety mechanism was inadvertently triggered, and the unit was promptly restarted.
- Trump characterized the escalator stoppage, an inoperative teleprompter and alleged audio issues as a 'triple sabotage', demanded immediate inquiries and said the U.S. Secret Service is involved.
- The U.S. mission to the UN requested security footage and detailed explanations, while the White House press secretary said anyone who deliberately halted the escalator should be fired and investigated.
- Responsibility for the teleprompter and parts of the audio setup is disputed, with the UN noting the president's teleprompter is typically operated by the visiting delegation.