Donald and Melania Trump Encounter Escalator Issue on Way to Summit

Stuck at the bottom: The awkward escalator malfunction occurred before the president encountered yet another mechanical difficulty during a major global speech.

It was meant to be a grand entrance — but instead, the world watched in stunned silence as the President of the United States (POTUS) and the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) were left stranded and motionless at the base of a frozen escalator in New York City.

Just hours later, the drama only intensified as the U.S. president stood before a global audience with a malfunctioning teleprompter, forced to improvise as cameras rolled.

Golden Escalator Grinds to a Halt as the World Watches

On September 23, 2025, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the 80th session of the United Nations' General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City.

But as they arrived to participate in this year's session, the theme of which was "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights" — with international press and diplomats watching — the unthinkable happened.

In a now-viral moment that has taken over social media, the escalator ferrying the first couple ground to an unexpected halt, leaving the POTUS and FLOTUS stalled awkwardly at the bottom of the golden-colored mechanism. As the machinery stopped just as it began its ascent, the Trumps appeared momentarily caught off guard.

Cameras continued to flash around them, capturing Melania glancing back, as if waiting to see if there would be assistance. The president, flanked by security and aides, also turned to assess the situation as the escalator remained unmoved beneath their feet.

As the couple looked back, they appeared to be slightly irritated, as a photo showing their expressions displayed Melania glancing at something or someone with a slight glare or side-eye, while her husband appeared stoic.

Melania Trump Takes Control as Donald Trump Follows Behind

What made the moment all the more striking was the ironic juxtaposition: the escalator directly beside them continued to run perfectly. Wasting no time, Melania, donning a sleek cream blazer and matching pants, took charge.

With steady grace and heels clicking against the metal, the first lady began walking up the motionless escalator — a quiet act of poise and determination. Donald followed behind, as he visibly adjusted his stance, and climbed the frozen staircase that now served only as a static structure.

Despite the snafu, the Trumps forged forward — all while the global media's lenses captured every step. Reporters attempted to seize the moment, shouting questions toward the couple as they ascended. But the president offered no comment.

In one widely circulated photo, Donald is seen briefly gesturing with his index finger, a subtle nod that may have been in response to the commotion below — or a cue to keep moving forward.

UN Breaks Silence: What Really Caused the Escalator Failure

In the hours following the escalator malfunction, a spokesperson for the UN addressed the incident with a formal statement, offering an explanation for what caused the abrupt stop.

According to Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the mishap was not the result of a mechanical failure but rather a built-in safety mechanism being triggered — potentially by someone within the U.S delegation.

"President Trump, accompanied by the First Lady and delegation, arrived at the UNHQ building this morning, and entered through the Delegate's entrance," Stéphane outlined in his statement. "After passing through the security gates, President Trump and the First Lady approached the escalator."

He went on to explain that a videographer from the U.S. delegation, who was attempting to film the Trumps' entrance, had stepped onto the escalator just before the couple — walking backward in an effort to capture their ascent.

"As the videographer, who was traveling backwards up the escalator [sic] reached the top, the First Lady, followed by President Trump, each mounted the steps at the bottom. At that moment (9:50 a.m.), the escalator came to a stop," the spokesperson explained.

UN personnel responded swiftly. "Our technician, who was at the location, reset the escalator as soon as the delegation had climbed up to the second floor," he added. A follow-up investigation — which included a readout of the escalator's central processing unit — confirmed that a safety mechanism built into the comb step had in fact been activated.

The safeguard, Stéphane clarified, is "designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing."

Before providing an explanation, the White House had called for an investigation into the incident. Donald also acknowledged the mishap later during his address to the General Assembly.

Despite the Escalator Mishap, the Events of the Day Continued as Planned

Despite the unexpected start to the morning, the day's proceedings at the UN headquarters moved forward as planned. The 80th session of the General Assembly opened at 9 a.m. ET with remarks from the UN Secretary-General, followed by Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.

The POTUS was slated as the second head of state to speak, taking the stage shortly after Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

His itinerary for the day included key diplomatic meetings with major global figures: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Argentine President Javier Milei.

Later in the day, he was expected to host multilateral talks with Arab and Muslim leaders amid growing international pressure over the Gaza conflict. The president's visit was scheduled to conclude with a formal diplomatic reception alongside dozens of global counterparts.

One Technical Glitch After Another as Donald Trump Takes the Stage

The escalator mishap wasn't the only hiccup Donald encountered during his day at the UN event. Once at the podium, standing before a room of world leaders, the president was met with yet another technical issue — this time involving the teleprompter meant to guide his speech.

"I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working," Donald announced at the start of his address, drawing a ripple of laughter from attendees.

"I feel very happy to be up here with you, nevertheless, and that way, you speak more from the heart," he added, turning the disruption into a moment of levity.

Still, the president couldn't resist a pointed joke aimed at whoever was responsible for the oversight. "I can only say that whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble," he quipped, prompting further chuckles from the chamber.

A few minutes into his remarks, Donald Trump appeared to pivot, referring instead to a printed version of his speech, which he held in his hands as he continued.

The brief glitch didn't seem to derail his delivery significantly, but it marked the second instance that day where technical complications placed the president at the center of viral attention.