**Escalator at UN Stops Suddenly as Donald Trump and Melania Trump Step On; White House Orders Probe**
*Last Updated: September 24, 2025, 13:51 IST*
An escalator at the United Nations abruptly stopped just as US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto it on Tuesday. Videos of the incident have gone viral across social media platforms.
The footage shows Donald Trump and Melania Trump approaching the escalator, which halted the moment they stepped on. Both appeared to suffer a brief jolt as the escalator stopped functioning. They quickly steadied themselves and proceeded to climb the metal steps manually.
### White House Demands Investigation: Was It Intentional?
The unusual event drew significant media attention. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called for an immediate investigation into the matter. In an X post, she referenced a report from the Times of London, which had suggested that some United Nations staff members joked about turning off escalators and claiming they “ran out of money” due to sweeping US funding cuts.
“If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately,” Leavitt wrote on X.
Speaking later to Fox News, Leavitt added, “If we find that these were UN staffers who were purposefully trying to trip up—literally, trip up—the President and the First Lady of the United States, well, there better be accountability for those people, and I will personally see to it.”
### United Nations Responds: Videographer May Have Triggered Safety Mechanism
Reacting to the incident, the United Nations suggested that the mystery behind the escalator’s sudden stop may have been solved. According to a statement by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, a readout from the escalator’s central processing unit indicated that it stopped after a built-in safety mechanism on the comb step at the top of the escalator was triggered.
Dujarric explained that the Trumps’ videographer had been traveling backward up the escalator to capture the arrival of the President and First Lady. This action may have inadvertently activated the safety feature.
“The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects from accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing,” Dujarric said.
### Trump’s Teleprompter Also Malfunctions During UNGA Speech
Adding to the day’s unusual events, President Trump’s teleprompter malfunctioned as he began speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
While the United Nations distanced itself from this issue, clarifying that the teleprompter is operated by the White House, Trump criticized the situation, saying, “Whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble.”
He further linked both the escalator and teleprompter incidents to what he described as the UN’s multiple failings, including a lack of support for his peace efforts in various conflicts.
“I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations,” Trump said. “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle. If the First Lady weren’t in great shape, she would have fallen, but she’s in great shape. We’re both in good shape.”
“These are the two things I got from the United Nations, a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter. Thank you very much,” concluded the US President.
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**Also Read:** [Donald Trump Meets Shehbaz Sharif, Arab Leaders On UNGA Sidelines Amid Gaza Crisis](#)
https://www.news18.com/world/donald-trump-melania-trump-un-escalator-video-us-president-unga-escalator-stops-karoline-leavitt-white-house-demands-probe-9592600.html
