Trump Alleges “Triple Sabotage” at UN After Melania’s Candid Remark
Former President Donald Trump says he is demanding a formal investigation into what he calls a “triple sabotage” during his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly — a claim he says was fueled by a private comment from his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, immediately after his speech.
On September 23, 2025, Trump, now 79, addressed world leaders for more than an hour in New York. His fiery remarks focused heavily on immigration, warning countries to “end the failed experiment of open borders” or face “going to hell.” He also renewed attacks on international climate agreements, denouncing renewable energy initiatives as “destroying a large part of the free world.” At one point, he even singled out London Mayor Sadiq Khan for personal criticism.
But beyond policy, Trump fixated on a series of mishaps that he insists were deliberate.
“Complete Sabotage”
Trump told his followers on Truth Social that three separate malfunctions disrupted his appearance:
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Escalator failure – The moving staircase carrying him and Melania to the stage suddenly stopped. Trump later wrote, “It stopped on a dime. It’s amazing we didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of the steel steps, face-first.”
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Teleprompter blackout – Once at the podium, Trump claimed the teleprompter “was stone cold dark,” leaving him to improvise before a live global audience.
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Audio malfunction – Finally, he alleged that the sound system cut out during parts of his speech, leaving world leaders unable to hear him unless they were using interpreters’ earpieces.
Afterward, Trump said he turned to Melania in the front row and asked how he had done. Her response shook him: “I couldn’t hear a word you said.”
That remark, he says, convinced him the glitches were not coincidence but deliberate interference. “They ought to be ashamed of themselves,” Trump declared, labeling the incidents “triple sabotage.”
Trump’s Next Steps
The former president announced plans to send a formal letter to the UN Secretary-General demanding an inquiry. He also revealed that the Secret Service is already involved and called for the preservation of all surveillance footage, especially video of the escalator’s emergency stop controls.
UN Pushes Back
The United Nations quickly responded. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the escalator halted because a White House videographer “accidentally triggered a safety mechanism,” adding that the equipment is designed to stop when objects or people are at risk of being caught.
While dismissing the idea of sabotage, Dujarric confirmed that the UN will conduct a full review of all three issues Trump raised — the escalator, the teleprompter, and the sound system. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to “full transparency” and ensuring that future high-level speeches are not affected by similar technical failures.
A Familiar Clash
For Trump, the incident serves as both a grievance and a rallying point. His critics see it as more political theater; his supporters view it as yet another example of establishment hostility. Either way, the “triple sabotage” claim ensures that his latest UN appearance will be remembered less for his policy statements — and more for the drama surrounding the stage itself.