Overview

• An escalator at UN headquarters stopped as President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump began ascending, prompting them to walk the remaining steps before his General Assembly address.
• UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said a built‑in safety system likely tripped when a videographer ahead of the couple inadvertently activated the sensor, and technicians restarted the unit after checks.
• A subsequent technical readout indicated the stop was triggered by the step‑comb safety mechanism at the top of the escalator, according to the UN’s account.
• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called for immediate firing and an investigation if anyone acted intentionally, while Trump labeled the episode a “triple sabotage,” urged preservation of security footage, and said the Secret Service would be involved.
• The UN noted the president’s teleprompter is operated by the White House and the General Assembly president said it was restored during the speech, as conservative media amplified sabotage claims and highlighted a Times report about UN staff joking about shutting equipment.