Guterres launches probe after Trump cries ‘sabotage’ over UN mishaps

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has initiated an official investigation following claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that technical malfunctions during his recent visit to UN headquarters were deliberate acts of “sabotage.”

During his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump alleged a “triple sabotage,” citing three separate incidents that he believes were intended to disrupt his address.

The General Debate session, attended by roughly 1,000 international delegates including world leaders, was marred by what Trump described as “sinister” occurrences.

According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, “The Secretary-General received correspondence from the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations regarding events that transpired during President Trump’s visit to UN headquarters on 23 September. The Secretary-General informed the U.S. Permanent Mission that he had already ordered a thorough investigation.”

Guterres assured that “the UN is ready to cooperate in full transparency with relevant U.S. authorities on this matter to determine what caused the incidents referred to by the United States.”

In a formal letter addressed to Guterres, Trump outlined three specific grievances: an escalator abruptly halting while he and First Lady Melania Trump were aboard, a malfunctioning teleprompter, and a sound system failure he claimed left him speaking to an audience unable to hear.

Branding the occurrences as “absolute sabotage,” Trump insisted the incidents were intentional, suggesting arrests should follow and revealing that the U.S. Secret Service was now involved.

“And I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working,” Trump remarked during his address. “I feel very happy to be up here with you nevertheless, and that way you speak more from the heart. I can only say that whoever’s operating this teleprompter is in big trouble.”

He added: “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle. If the First Lady wasn’t in great shape, she would have fallen, but she’s in great shape. We’re both in good shape, we’re both still. And then a teleprompter that didn’t work. These are the two things I got from the United Nations — a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.”

However, UN officials say there is no evidence of foul play. Dujarric provided a detailed timeline of events involving the escalator incident.

“In answer to the many questions received about the escalator incident this morning involving the President of the United States and the First Lady, I have the following information to share,” he said.

“President Trump, accompanied by the First Lady and delegation, arrived at the UNHQ building this morning, and entered through the Delegate’s entrance. After passing through the security gates, President Trump and the First Lady approached the escalator.”

Dujarric explained that a U.S. delegation videographer, attempting to film the arrival, boarded the escalator ahead of the Trumps while walking backward. As the videographer reached the top, the First Lady, followed by Trump, stepped on the escalator, which then suddenly stopped.

“At that moment (9:50 a.m.), the escalator came to a stop. Our technician, who was at the location, reset the escalator as soon as the delegation had climbed up to the second floor,” Dujarric reported.

A subsequent technical review found that a built-in safety mechanism had been triggered at the top of the escalator.

“The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing,” Dujarric noted. “The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function described above.”

As of now, the investigation remains ongoing, with the UN emphasizing transparency and cooperation with U.S. authorities.