After delivering a passionate, extended address at the United Nations General Assembly, former President Donald Trump revealed the private words First Lady Melania Trump shared with him immediately afterward. According to Trump, her reaction spurred him to pursue a formal inquiry into what he described as a “triple sabotage” during the event.
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the 79-year-old former president spoke for over an hour before the global audience at the UN General Assembly. In his remarks, Trump voiced strong criticism of international immigration policies, urging nations to “end the failed experiment of open borders,” and warning that those who persisted with such policies were “heading toward disaster.”
Trump’s speech also included pointed critiques of multiple UN initiatives. He took the opportunity to defend his previous decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord and criticized what he called “so-called green energy programs,” claiming they were “damaging both the free world and our planet.” Additionally, he launched a verbal attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan, using sharp and disparaging language.
In an unusual portion of his speech, Trump addressed technical issues that occurred during the event. He specifically mentioned problems with the escalator leading to the podium, calling it “bad,” and also noted malfunctions with the teleprompter. Recalling a previous incident when he and Melania attempted to ascend the stage, he joked, “If the First Lady hadn’t been in great shape, she would have fallen,” eliciting laughter from some audience members.
After the speech, Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to express his frustration. He described the day as “complete sabotage,” suggesting that the technical failures were intentional.
Trump outlined three separate incidents. First, the escalator abruptly stopped while carrying him and Melania to the main floor. “It stopped on a dime. Incredible that Melania and I didn’t tumble face-first onto the steel steps,” he wrote.
Second, he said the teleprompter failed at a critical moment. “While speaking to millions of viewers worldwide, and before important world leaders, my teleprompter went completely dark,” he explained.
Finally, Trump claimed the audio system malfunctioned, preventing anyone in the hall from hearing his speech. “World leaders, unless using the interpreters’ earpieces, couldn’t hear a thing,” he stated. After finishing, he recounted approaching Melania in the front row and asking, “How did I do?” She reportedly replied, “I couldn’t hear a word you said.”
Citing the escalator, teleprompter, and audio issues, Trump concluded that the incidents were deliberate, dubbing them “triple sabotage” and saying, “Those responsible ought to be ashamed.”
He also said he plans to send a formal letter to the UN Secretary-General demanding an urgent review and noted that the U.S. Secret Service is involved. Trump requested that all relevant security footage, particularly recordings of the escalator’s emergency stop, be secured for the investigation.
Responding to the claims, a UN statement explained that the escalator stopped because a White House videographer “accidentally triggered a safety mechanism.” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that the escalator includes safety systems designed to prevent accidents.
While the UN dismissed suggestions that the escalator was deliberately stopped, Dujarric confirmed a “thorough investigation” will take place into all three reported issues: the escalator, the teleprompter, and the audio system. He added that the UN is “ready to cooperate with full transparency” to determine the causes and prevent such incidents during future high-profile addresses.
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