NEW YORK, Sept 24, 2025 – The White House has accused the United Nations of orchestrating a series of deliberate disruptions during President Donald J. Trump’s visit to the UN headquarters on Tuesday, labeling it a “triple sabotage” that included an escalator malfunction, a teleprompter failure, and suspicious staff behavior. In a strongly worded statement posted on X late Wednesday, the White House called for an immediate investigation, with President Trump vowing to send a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres.
The incident unfolded as Trump and First Lady Melania Trump ascended an escalator to the Main Speaking Floor, only for it to come to an abrupt halt. According to the White House, this was followed by a teleprompter breakdown during the President’s speech, which was further compounded by what they described as unprofessional conduct from UN workers. “Three very sinister events! First, the escalator going up to the Main Speaking Floor came to a screeching halt… It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly, or it would have been a disaster,” the statement read, citing a London Times report that UN workers were “joked about turning off an escalator.”
The White House suggested the incidents were intentional, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hinting at a possible plot to “trip up” the President and First Lady. “The people that did it should be arrested! Then, as I stood before a Television crowd of millions of people all over the world, and important leaders in the Hall, my teleprompter didn’t work… What kind of a place is this?” Trump’s statement continued, reflecting his frustration.
The UN has disputed these claims, asserting that a Trump staff member may have accidentally triggered the escalator stop mechanism, while the teleprompter issue was handled by the U.S. delegation. However, the allegations have reignited past tensions, with the 2021 internal UN report highlighting inefficiencies and mismanagement adding fuel to the sabotage speculation. This echoes a similar teleprompter failure during Trump’s 2019 UN speech, which drew laughter from the audience
Amid the controversy, the U.S. contribution of $13 billion to the UN in 2023—making it the largest donor—has come under scrutiny, with Trump signaling potential funding cuts in his second term. The President concluded his statement with a call for accountability: “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.”
The incident has sparked a wave of reactions on X, with supporters echoing calls to defund and withdraw from the UN, while critics question the feasibility of the sabotage narrative. As the UN considers its response, the international body faces growing pressure to address the escalating diplomatic rift.