Washington, Sept 25 (HS): U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused the United Nations of “triple sabotage” after a series of technical disruptions—an escalator malfunction, a blackout of his teleprompter, and sound system issues—marred his visit to UN headquarters in New York.

Footage from Tuesday showed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepping onto an escalator before it abruptly halted, forcing them to walk the remaining steps. Later, as Trump delivered his speech, he complained that his teleprompter remained blank for nearly 15 minutes and that the auditorium sound system was not functioning properly.

Trump initially brushed off the mishap with humor but returned a day later with heated allegations. “This wasn’t a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN. They ought to be ashamed of themselves,” he wrote on Truth Social.

He added that he had sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanding “an immediate investigation,” and warned that the Secret Service was reviewing the incident.

The president further labeled the disruptions a “REAL DISGRACE,” suggesting that the faulty escalator could have caused a serious accident involving him and the First Lady. “It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first,” he wrote.

The United Nations, however, pushed back against Trump’s claims, attributing the chaos to accidental causes. According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, a U.S. delegation videographer “may have inadvertently triggered the safety function” of the escalator, while the teleprompter operations were the responsibility of the White House team.

During his address, Trump used the setbacks to intensify criticism of the UN, accusing it of financing illegal migration and failing to support his peace initiatives in Gaza and Ukraine.

The UN has not officially responded to Trump’s demand for an investigation, but it has maintained that the mishaps were not intentional.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar