Following his lengthy and impassioned address at the United Nations General Assembly, former President Donald J. Trump, 79, publicly disclosed the private words First Lady Melania Trump shared with him immediately after his speech.
According to Trump, her observations inspired him to initiate a formal investigation into what he described as a “triple sabotage” of his address—a series of technical failures that he believes were not coincidental but deliberate.
The speech, delivered on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, spanned more than an hour and addressed key topics ranging from global immigration policies to international environmental programs.
Trump’s delivery, both fiery and detailed, drew attention not only for its content but also for the unusual technical difficulties he claimed to have experienced during the event.
During the UN General Assembly, Trump criticized current global immigration policies, framing open-border initiatives as harmful to national security and societal stability.
“End the failed experiment of open borders,” Trump stated, emphasizing that countries maintaining such policies were, in his words, “going to hell.”
His speech extended beyond immigration to include scathing critiques of various United Nations initiatives, particularly environmental programs.
Trump highlighted his prior decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, framing it as a necessary step for the protection of American economic interests.
He further argued against “so-called green, renewable energy” programs, claiming that, in his view, they were “destroying a large part of the free world and a large part of our planet.”
In addition to these broad policy critiques, Trump singled out specific world leaders in a manner that drew international attention. Among those mentioned was London Mayor Sadiq Khan, whom Trump disparaged during his remarks.
While the bulk of the speech focused on policy and political critique, Trump also addressed the day’s technical difficulties in a candid, offbeat section of the speech.
This moment, though brief, was one of the first indications that Trump intended to publicly discuss the technical problems he experienced.
The Technical Difficulties: Escalator, Teleprompter, and Audio
After leaving the stage, Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to explain his frustration. He described three separate incidents that collectively formed the basis of what he termed “triple sabotage.”
1. The Escalator Incident
Trump recounted that the escalator carrying him and Melania abruptly halted as they ascended to the main speaking floor: “It stopped on a dime. It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face-first.”
Trump emphasized that the sudden stoppage posed a serious risk to both him and the First Lady, framing it as evidence that the incident was not an accident. The escalator halt, according to Trump, was the first of three malfunctions that day.
2. Teleprompter Malfunction
The second failure involved the teleprompter, which Trump claimed stopped functioning at a critical moment during his speech:
“Then, as I stood before a television audience of millions of people worldwide, as well as important world leaders gathered in the hall, my teleprompter didn’t work. It was stone cold dark.”
Trump noted that the teleprompter’s failure disrupted his ability to deliver prepared remarks seamlessly, forcing him to rely on memory and improvisation in front of an international audience.
He suggested that such a failure at a high-profile venue was unusual and raised questions about intentional interference.
3. Audio Issues
Finally, Trump alleged that the sound system in the General Assembly hall was not functioning properly, limiting audibility for both live attendees and international viewers: “World leaders, unless they were using the interpreters’ earpieces, couldn’t hear a thing.”
He stressed that the combination of these three issues—the escalator, the teleprompter, and the audio—amounted to more than mere coincidence, describing the events collectively as “triple sabotage.”
Melania Trump’s Role and Her Remarks
According to Trump, after completing his speech, he approached Melania, who was seated in the front row. Seeking her feedback, he asked: “How did I do?”
Her candid response reportedly reinforced his suspicion that the day’s difficulties had materially impacted the presentation: “I couldn’t hear a word you said,” Melania allegedly replied.
Trump cited her comments as a motivating factor in pursuing a formal review and investigation, interpreting them as confirmation that the technical failures had compromised the effectiveness of his address to the global audience.
Following the speech, Trump indicated that he would request a formal investigation into the incidents. According to his statements:
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He plans to send a letter to the UN Secretary-General, demanding urgent attention.
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The United States Secret Service is reportedly involved in reviewing security footage and verifying the circumstances surrounding the escalator incident.
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Trump has requested that recordings of the escalator’s emergency stop mechanism be preserved and examined.
He framed these actions as a necessary step to ensure accountability and prevent similar technical difficulties during future addresses, arguing that public officials and international audiences deserve reliable platforms for communication.
Response from the United Nations
In response, the United Nations issued a statement clarifying the circumstances behind the escalator halt. According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric: “The escalator was stopped because a White House videographer accidentally triggered a safety mechanism.
The escalator is designed with built-in safety features to prevent people or objects from being caught in the machinery.”
Dujarric emphasized that the UN had found no evidence that the escalator stoppage was intentional, framing it as a safety precaution rather than sabotage.
However, the UN confirmed that a thorough investigation will examine all three incidents Trump described, including:
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The cause of the teleprompter malfunction
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The escalator stoppage
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Any irregularities with the audio system “The UN is ready to cooperate with full transparency to determine the facts behind these technical difficulties and to ensure that such problems do not happen again during future high-profile addresses,” Dujarric said.
Historical Context of UN Technical Issues
Technical difficulties during high-profile speeches at the UN are rare but not unprecedented. Past incidents have included microphone failures, lighting malfunctions, and teleprompter issues.
These challenges, often arising from the complexity of managing large international events, underscore the importance of robust contingency planning.
While Trump’s use of the term “triple sabotage” is unusual in diplomatic contexts, his emphasis on technical accountability reflects broader concerns about ensuring smooth operations during addresses that reach millions of viewers worldwide.
Reactions from the Public and Media
Trump’s statements quickly drew media attention, with outlets across the world analyzing both the speech and the alleged technical issues.
Social media users debated whether the failures were accidental or deliberate, with some noting the unusual combination of escalator, teleprompter, and audio problems as remarkable, while others argued that equipment malfunctions are a common risk in any live event.
Analysts also examined Melania’s reported involvement, highlighting her role as a supportive figure whose feedback prompted her husband to pursue the investigation.
Commentary focused on her calm professionalism and the private influence she exerted on Trump’s public actions.
Technical Analysis and Expert Opinions
Several experts in live event management and audiovisual engineering have weighed in on the incidents. Common themes include:
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Safety Mechanisms: Modern escalators and platform systems include emergency stop features designed to prevent injury, which can be accidentally triggered.
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Teleprompter Reliability: Teleprompters rely on both hardware and networked software systems, meaning that a brief technical glitch can cause them to fail at critical moments.
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Audio Complexity: Sound distribution in large halls, particularly for international broadcasts, is highly complex. Even minor disruptions can render audio unintelligible to attendees or viewers relying on standard output.
Experts note that while each malfunction could plausibly occur independently, the combination is statistically less common, leading some observers to describe the events as unusual, though not necessarily deliberate.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Future Addresses
The incidents highlighted by Trump underscore the need for careful technical planning during global events.
International organizations, including the UN, may review procedures for speech delivery, incorporating redundant systems and additional safeguards to prevent escalator, teleprompter, or audio failures.
Trump’s insistence on a formal investigation also reflects a broader theme in his public communications: ensuring that procedural failures or perceived sabotage are documented, reviewed, and addressed.
While the UN has sought to assure transparency, the situation remains closely watched by both media and international observers.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s September 23, 2025, address at the United Nations General Assembly will be remembered not only for its policy statements but also for the unusual technical difficulties he experienced.
Claiming a “triple sabotage” based on the escalator, teleprompter, and audio malfunctions, Trump cited private feedback from Melania Trump as a motivating factor in pursuing a formal investigation.
While the UN has clarified that the escalator issue was triggered accidentally, a comprehensive review of all technical aspects of the speech is underway, reflecting the importance of reliable systems during high-profile international addresses.
The episode underscores the intersection of politics, technology, and public performance, highlighting how even small technical disruptions can influence the perception of a speech delivered before world leaders and millions of viewers worldwide.
As investigations continue, the event serves as a reminder that precision, preparation, and technical redundancy are essential components of modern diplomacy and global communication.
