The White House has sharply criticized UN security, accusing them of intentionally sabotaging the escalators to humiliate President Trump and First Lady Melania during their visit to the UN headquarters in Manhattan on September 23, 2025.
As Trump and Melania arrived, they found themselves forced to walk up a stalled escalator—an experience that seemed to set the tone for the President's fiery speech later that day.
Tech issues seemed to follow Trump around from the very moment he entered the building.
Escalator incident raises questions
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referred to a report by The Times that suggested UN staff had "joked" about halting the escalators and elevators as a prank.
The report detailed that the pranksters reportedly planned to make the couple walk up the stairs, telling them they “ran out of money.”
"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 expressed indignantly on X.
Trump later mentioned the incident during his speech, saying per The Hill: “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator on the way up that stopped in the middle… If the First Lady wasn't in great shape, she would've fallen.”
Trump’s blistering UN speech
Trump's address to the United Nations General Assembly was equally contentious.
He criticized the organization for its support of immigration policies that he believes threaten Western nations.
"The United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders," Trump declared, per BBC News.
He also criticized European nations for continuing to purchase Russian energy, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating: “It’s embarrassing to them, and it was very embarrassing to them when I found out about it."
In his speech, Trump continued to address issues of uncontrolled migration, calling it “the top issue of our time.”
He accused the UN of “creating invasions” and failing to take action to protect borders.
He further added that uncontrolled immigration was “ruining” Western countries, with specific mention of London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, whom he described as overseeing a city “so changed” that it was heading towards adopting Sharia law.
The speech also touched on Trump’s foreign policy achievements, including peace deals brokered during his first term.
However, he lamented that the United Nations had not provided support in these matters.
Trump also criticized the UN for its lack of effectiveness, saying: “All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.”
The UN’s criticism of US policy
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the consequences of U.S. policies, particularly the reductions in aid, which he said were causing "havoc" around the world.
Trump's retreat from global cooperation, such as his withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the UN climate pact, has been a source of significant friction in international relations.
In contrast to Trump’s stance, Guterres framed the UN as a crucial force for law and diplomacy, calling for global unity to address crises like the war in Ukraine, as well as climate change.
Despite the tensions between the U.S. and the UN, Trump’s speech has ignited debate on the effectiveness of international organizations and their role in global affairs.