Washington [US], September 25: On September 24, US President Donald Trump said the US Secret Service was investigating what he described as an 'act of sabotage' at the United Nations headquarters in New York aimed at disrupting his appearance before the General Assembly.
On Truth Social, President Trump said that the escalator carrying him and First Lady Melania down to the main lobby "suddenly stopped," nearly causing both of them to fall. The leader demanded the arrest of those he believed responsible for the incident, according to Reuters on September 25.
The White House owner also said that his teleprompter was completely turned off as soon as the speech began, and world leaders in the hall could not hear his speech due to a problem with the sound system.
"Not one, or two, but three suspicious events," Mr. Trump wrote on his social media account.
Meanwhile, UN officials explained that the escalator stopped working because an automatic safety mechanism was activated, and the teleprompter was operated by the White House, not by staff at the UN headquarters.
Calling the series of incidents "triple vandalism," Mr. Trump said he had asked the United Nations to preserve all images from security cameras and ordered an investigation. According to the leader, the US Secret Service is involved.
UN officials have not responded to requests for comment on Mr Trump's push to open an investigation.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the escalator's central processing unit recorded that a safety mechanism at the edge of the steps had been activated, causing the escalator to stop at the highest point.
The spokesman noted that a Trump cameraman was walking backward while in front of Trump and his wife on the escalator to record, and that this action may have accidentally triggered the escalator's safety mechanism.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper