US President calls for probe into ‘three suspicious incidents’ at United Nations headquarters in New York.
Published On 25 Sep 2025
President Donald Trump of the United States has called for a thorough investigation following what he describes as a “triple act of sabotage” during his recent visit to the United Nations headquarters.
In a statement posted on social media this Wednesday, Trump revealed he had sent a formal letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging a probe into three distinct malfunctions involving an escalator, a teleprompter, and audio equipment at the UN’s New York facility.
Just moments before addressing the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, both Trump and First Lady Melania encountered a sudden stoppage of an escalator, forcing them to ascend on foot after the machinery abruptly ceased operation.
Initially, Trump appeared to downplay the mishap, making light of the escalator failure and a problematic teleprompter during his speech.
However, his tone shifted dramatically the following day, as he labeled these occurrences “three very sinister events” and confirmed that the US Secret Service had launched an investigation.
“It’s astonishing that Melania and I didn’t tumble forward onto the unforgiving steel steps. We were fortunate to be gripping the handrails firmly; otherwise, it could have ended disastrously,” Trump stated.
He insisted the escalator incident was a deliberate act of sabotage, referencing a report from The Sunday Times which mentioned that some UN employees had joked about disabling escalators to embarrass the US president.
“Those responsible must be held accountable!” Trump demanded.
Additionally, Trump criticized the sound system during his address, claiming it was “completely malfunctioning,” and that the audience was unable to hear him clearly without relying on interpreter earpieces.
Supporting Trump’s call for scrutiny, Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, described the incidents as “unacceptable” and indicative of a dysfunctional organization that poses significant safety and security concerns.
The UN has yet to issue an official response to these latest allegations.
Earlier on Tuesday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric suggested the escalator’s sudden halt might have been triggered accidentally by a videographer accompanying Trump, who may have pressed the emergency stop button.
Another UN representative, Farhan Aziz Haq, clarified that the teleprompter was provided by Trump’s own team and directed any further questions to the White House.
