President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump experienced an unexpected moment at the United Nations when the escalator they were on suddenly stopped before his scheduled speech. The couple calmly walked the rest of the way, but the incident quickly sparked speculation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called for an investigation, saying it “might have been deliberate” and noting reports that UN staff had joked about limiting Trump’s elevator access. On Fox News, she repeated her concern, suggesting possible “sabotage” and demanding accountability if proven true.

The U.S. Secret Service began reviewing the situation, while UN officials denied any foul play. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric explained that “nothing nefarious” occurred — a U.S. videographer accidentally triggered the escalator’s safety sensor while filming backward, causing an automatic stop. Technicians later confirmed the mechanism worked properly.

During his speech to the 80th UN General Assembly, Trump joked about the incident, saying it could have been worse “if not for the first lady’s fitness.” He also laughed off a teleprompter glitch, joking the operator was “in big trouble.”

Trump concluded by criticizing the UN for “inefficiency” and failing to “contribute meaningfully to peace efforts or U.S. diplomacy.”