Escalator Safety Stop Halts Trump at U.N.

At the U.N. General Assembly, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were briefly halted when an escalator carrying them stopped; U.N. officials said a built‑in safety mechanism was triggered — possibly by a U.S. delegation videographer — and technicians quickly reset the unit, forcing them to climb stairs. Trump also faced a teleprompter malfunction during his address, quipping the operator was "in big trouble," while the U.N. said the White House controlled the device. Reading from printed notes, he delivered an about 57‑minute, grievance‑laden speech that denounced the United Nations as dysfunctional, attacked climate action as a "green scam," urged reliance on oil, coal and nuclear power, criticized European migration policies and Russian energy handling, touted his foreign‑policy record, and pressed for the immediate release of hostages in Gaza. The incidents drew wide media and social‑media attention and lampooning from critics, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt demanded an immediate investigation and called for those responsible to be fired. Trump later posted on Truth Social saying it was an honor to speak at the U.N. despite the equipment problems.