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US President Donald Trump had an embarrassing moment when an escalator abruptly stopped shortly after he stepped onto it at the United Nations building on Tuesday. “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up stopped right in the middle,” he mused, chopping the air with his hand. But it turns out the cause was closer to Trump. Now, the main question arises: who stopped the escalator?

Who stopped the UN escalator?

The United Nations believes it has solved the mystery of why an escalator abruptly stopped. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the secretary-general, said a videographer from the US delegation who ran ahead of him triggered the stop mechanism at the top of the escalator. “The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects from accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing,” Dujarric said in a statement.

“The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function.”

However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wasn't so lighthearted about it. “Someone at the UN intentionally stopped the escalator as the President and First Lady were stepping on, they need to be fired and investigated immediately,” she posted on X after the incident.

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Who stopped Trump's teleprompter?

As he began his speech, Trump also noted that the teleprompter wasn't working. He joked that whoever was running the teleprompter “is in big trouble.” On the teleprompter, Trump told the General Assembly on Tuesday: "I can only say that whoever's operating this teleprompter is in big trouble."

A UN official speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue contributed that one to his side as well, saying the White House was operating the teleprompter for the president. After Trump finished speaking, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said, "The UN teleprompters are working perfectly."

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Dysfunctional UN Building

Regardless of the cause, it's not unusual for escalators at the UN to stop working, as staff and visitors know quite well. In recent months, UN offices in New York and Geneva have intermittently turned off elevators and escalators as part of steps to save money because of a “liquidity crisis” at the world body. That's due in part to delays in funding from the United States, which is the top donor to the world body.

(With inputs from agencies)