"This Wasn't A Coincidence": Trump Demands Probe Into UN Escalator Glitch

The escalator came to an abrupt halt moments after Trump and Melania stepped onto it at the UN building on Tuesday.

Washington:

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump called for an investigation into what he described as "triple sabotage" following malfunctions of an escalator, teleprompter, and sound system during his address at the United Nations.

While the UN has stated that the incidents which occurred during Trump's visit to its New York headquarters on Tuesday were accidental, partly attributing them to White House staff actions, Trump expressed his displeasure through an extensive, indignant social media statement.

"This wasn't a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN. They ought to be ashamed of themselves," Trump declared on his Truth Social platform.

"I'm sending a copy of this letter to the Secretary General, and I demand an immediate investigation. No wonder the United Nations hasn't been able to do the job that they were put in existence to do."

Video footage captured the 79-year-old president and First Lady Melania Trump boarding the escalator at UN headquarters on Tuesday before it unexpectedly stopped, compelling them to walk up the remaining steps.

Subsequently, as he began delivering his speech, he remarked that his teleprompter was not functioning.

Throughout the remainder of his address, he criticized the global organization, accusing it of financing illegal migration that was transforming Western nations into "hell" and failing to support his peace initiatives in Gaza and Ukraine.

Though Trump appeared to make light of the escalator incident on Tuesday, his attitude noticeably hardened by the following day.

"A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday. Not one, not two, but three very sinister events!" he wrote.

Trump claimed the escalator stoppage could have resulted in a "real disaster."

"It's amazing that Melania and I didn't fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first," he stated.

Trump further complained that his teleprompter for the speech was "stone cold dark" for the initial 15 minutes, and that the sound system in the UN auditorium was "completely off."

The US president requested preservation of security footage related to the escalator incident, adding: "The Secret Service is involved."

The United Nations did not immediately respond to Trump's statement.

However, the organization maintained on Tuesday that there were straightforward explanations for all the incidents.

According to Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a videographer from the US delegation "may have inadvertently triggered the safety function" on the escalator, causing it to stop.

"Regarding the teleprompter, we have no comment since the teleprompter for the US president is operated by the White House."