Background on the Incident
During his visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York, former U.S. President Donald Trump experienced an unexpected incident on the electric stairway. The event occurred when Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, attempted to use the stairway for a photo opportunity before delivering his speech at the UN General Assembly. Suddenly, the stairway stopped working, causing Trump and Melania to lose their balance and quickly ascend the remaining steps manually while holding onto the handrail.
Conflicting Accounts
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, stated that the incident was accidental. He explained that someone unintentionally triggered the safety mechanism of the stairway, causing it to stop. The device was later restored to normal operation.
However, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, demanded an immediate investigation into whether the incident was deliberate. If it were found that a UN employee intentionally stopped the stairway, Leavitt called for their immediate dismissal.
Trump’s Reaction
The incident deeply upset Trump, who is known for his sensitivity to any mishaps during public appearances. During his speech, Trump expressed his frustration, mentioning the malfunctioning stairway and teleprompter as two issues he encountered from the UN.
“I received two things from the United Nations: a faulty electric stairway and a malfunctioning teleprompter,” Trump said, referring to technical difficulties at the beginning of his address.
Dujarric declined to comment on the teleprompter issue, stating that it was managed by the White House.
Social Media Response
Trump vented his frustration on his social media platform, Truth Social. The White House press secretary shared an excerpt from The Times article suggesting UN employees jokingly discussed blocking elevators and electric stairways during Trump’s visit.
Key Questions and Answers
- What happened during Trump’s visit to the UN? An electric stairway unexpectedly stopped working while Trump and Melania Trump were using it for a photo opportunity.
- Who is responsible for the malfunctioning stairway? According to Stéphane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, it was an accident caused by someone unintentionally activating the safety mechanism.
- What did Trump say about the incident? Trump expressed his frustration during his speech at the UN General Assembly, mentioning both the faulty stairway and teleprompter as issues he encountered.
- What did the White House demand? The White House called for an immediate investigation into whether the incident was deliberate and requested the dismissal of the responsible party if found guilty.
- How did Trump respond to the incident? Trump expressed his displeasure on Truth Social and referenced the issues with the stairway and teleprompter during his speech.
