Donald Trump was met with a pointed remark as he arrived at United Nations headquarters on Tuesday, a jab that referenced a prior incident involving a malfunctioning escalator.
As Trump and first lady Melania Trump ascended an escalator within the UN building, a bystander called out, “Be careful with the stairs.” The comment drew laughter from those present.
The remark was a clear callback to Trump's visit to the UN approximately one year prior. During that visit, the escalator carrying him and the first lady unexpectedly stopped, forcing them to walk the remaining distance. At the time, Trump expressed significant displeasure with the malfunction, publicly demanding an "immediate investigation" and calling the incident "sabotage," adding that those responsible should be arrested.
A spokesperson for the UN had previously offered a different explanation for the earlier escalator stoppage, suggesting that a member of Trump's own delegation might have inadvertently activated the emergency stop mechanism.