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Donald Trump and Melania Trump were briefly stranded on a halted escalator at United Nations headquarters, sparking online conspiracy theories.
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump ride an escalator at UN.
An escalator mishap at the United Nations headquarters briefly stalled Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump- an incident the US President mentioned in his speech to the General Assembly, which quickly triggered a wave of online conspiracy theories. The stoppage occurred as the US President and his wife entered the building through the delegates’ entrance and stepped onto the main escalator to the second floor. A White House videographer, walking backwards to film their arrival, had just reached the top when the escalator jolted to a halt.
The sudden stop left the Trumps momentarily stranded before Melania Trump began climbing the stationary steps, with Donald Trump following close behind. Live broadcasts and clips rapidly circulated on social media, showing the unusual sight of the US President trudging up a frozen escalator.
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What Donald Trump Said On The Incident
Donald Trump referred to the incident several times during his address to world leaders.
“All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle,” he said, drawing laughter from the hall. He added, “If the First Lady wasn’t in great shape, she would have fallen. But she’s in great shape. We both stood.”
The US President also faced a brief teleprompter failure during his speech, joking that the operator was “in big trouble” and that he was “speaking more from the heart.”
What UN Said On The Escalator Halt
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric attributed the stoppage to a safety mechanism.
“The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function,” he said, explaining that the system is designed to prevent clothing or objects from being caught in the machinery. The escalator was reset immediately after the Trumps reached the second floor.
Conspiracy Theories Online
Despite the explanation, speculation spread quickly online. Some users on social media accused UN staff of sabotage while conservative commentators suggested the stop was deliberate.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted, “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.”
On Fox News, host Jesse Watters claimed, “They sabotaged him and they could’ve hurt the First Lady.”
Delhi, India, India
September 25, 2025, 01:54 IST
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