New York: The mystery surrounding the stalled escalator incident at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), involving former US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, has been solved. The UN has clarified that the malfunction was not sabotage, but rather a safety mechanism triggered accidentally by Trump’s own videographer.

Escalator stopped due to safety trigger

According to Reuters, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric explained that the escalator’s central processing unit recorded the incident as a safety response. The built-in mechanism activated when Trump’s cameraman, walking backwards to capture the couple’s entrance, reportedly tripped the safety comb-step at the top of the escalator.

“The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing,” Dujarric stated. He stressed that the incident was not an attempt to humiliate or endanger the former president.

Social media reacts to the mishap

A video of the moment quickly went viral on social media. It showed Melania Trump calmly marching up the now-stationary steps, while Donald Trump looked around in confusion. Users were quick to comment:

  • “That’s pretty serious—what sounds like a petty ‘joke’ could actually cross into a security risk when it involves a head of state.”
  • “Nice way to treat your biggest funder,” another quipped.
  • “I loved how the First Lady didn’t even blink and kept going up the escalators,” one user wrote.

The incident sparked debates online about security preparedness at the UN, with some calling it a simple technical glitch, while others suspected negligence.

Trump turns it into a punchline

Never one to miss an opportunity for humour, Trump later joked before the 193-member UN assembly: “These are the two things I got from the United Nations—a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.”

While Trump laughed it off publicly, the White House reportedly treated the matter seriously. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called for a full investigation, stating, “If someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator, they need to be fired and investigated immediately.”

Conclusion

The UN’s clarification has put to rest rumours of sabotage, attributing the mishap to a simple safety trigger caused by Trump’s own cameraman. While the incident may have left Trump momentarily puzzled, it ended up as fodder for humour, memes, and online debates, underscoring how even minor technical glitches can escalate into global talking points when world leaders are involved.