MAGA Meltdown over Escalator / Teleprompter Kerfufle : Shared by Tom McDermott

Republicans Melt Down Over Escalator Incident

Ron Filipkowski
Meidas+
Sep 24, 2025
Click here for the article: Republicans Melt Down Over Escalator Incident. (MeidasPlus)

For the official UN Statement click here

For the full video and main points of Trump's speech click here

Summary
After Trump and Melania experienced a stalled escalator and a malfunctioning teleprompter at the UN, right-wing media and MAGA figures erupted with accusations of sabotage.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Fox host Jesse Watters amplified claims that the UN orchestrated the incidents. This quickly escalated into calls to defund or even bomb the UN, with multiple figures framing the technical mishaps as deliberate attacks on Trump’s safety and dignity. 

Quotes

• UN official (via AP’s Farnoush Amiri) — “Someone from the president’s party who ran ahead of him inadvertently triggered the stop mechanism on the escalator. The official also said the White House was operating the teleprompter for Trump.” (UN spokesman’s explanation / AP reporting). (AP News)

• Taylor Budowich, Deputy White House Chief of Staff — “I call bullshit.” (MeidasPlus)

• Jesse Watters, Fox News — “They sabotaged them and they could have hurt the first lady. This is an insurrection. We either need to leave the UN or we need to bomb it.” (Yahoo)

• Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary — “Also, the audio inside of the room was much lower and different for the president than the previous speaker… it doesn’t look like a coincidence to me. And I know that we have people, including the Secret Service, who are looking into this.” (Leavitt’s posted / on-air comments demanding accountability.) (MeidasPlus)

• Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) — “This should be the beginning of the end of America’s relationship with the UN. The UN deep state tried to embarrass Trump and make him less safe.” (MeidasPlus)

• Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor — “It is high time the US gives the UN the middle finger… Turn the current UN into a hotel and stick a giant ‘TRUMP’ sign on the outside!” (MeidasPlus)

• Todd Starnes, conservative commentator / radio host — “Coincidence or intentional hijinks designed to embarrass our president? … Once all the illegals are deported we should do the same to the UN.” (Audacy)

• David Marcus, right-wing commentator (social/X post) — “It looks an awful lot like someone at the UN intentionally stopped Trump's escalator, hoping to make a 79 year old man have a fall.” (X (formerly Twitter))

• Miranda Devine, New York Post columnist — “This can’t just be ignored. Trump should move the UN to Gaza. It’s just one giant grift fest.” (X (formerly Twitter))

• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) — “Defund the UN.” (MeidasPlus)

• Brenden Dilley, podcaster / host of The Dilley Show — “If we discover that the UN deliberately turned off the escalator… we should bomb them. All of them.” (X (formerly Twitter))

• Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights (U.S. DOJ) — “Deport the UN.”  (Department of Justice)

• Cattturd (social/X account) — “It was 100% deliberate… We need to leave the UN now!” (social post / influencer handle). (X (formerly Twitter))

• Hans Mahncke (commentator / X account) — “First off, this was 100% deliberate… those responsible should not just be fired but also investigated for reckless endangerment, mischief, and potential battery.” (social post / commentator). (RealClearDefense)