Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(170,256 posts)
1. MaddowBlog-The rapid rise and sudden fall of the United Nations escalator 'controversy'
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 08:19 PM
Wednesday

Some Republicans suggested the U.N. had targeted Donald Trump with an escalator malfunction. Evidently, the truth was more benign.

The rapid rise and sudden fall of the United Nations escalator ‘controversy’ www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

Margie (@paeznyc.bsky.social) 2025-09-24T21:18:52.855Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/rapid-rise-sudden-fall-united-nation-escalator-controversy-rcna233450

During his ridiculous address to the U.N. General Assembly, Donald Trump covered quite a bit of ground, but his speech included a curious reference to, of all things, an escalator......

Evidently, the truth was more benign. NBC News reported:

The United Nations has concluded its one-day investigation into the mysterious halting of President Donald Trump’s escalator Tuesday as he arrived at the U.N. General Assembly. The accidental culprit? A White House videographer who most likely tripped a safety mechanism.

A U.N. spokesperson explained: “The escalator had stopped after a built-in safety mechanism on the comb step was 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. The [White House] videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function described above.”.....

All of this, of course, came before the public learned that it was a White House videographer that apparently triggered the escalator’s safety measures.

Kevin Kruse, a historian at Princeton University, noted soon after: “This is the perfect encapsulation of Trumpism — because of its obsession with imagery, the White House crew caused a problem but blamed it on other people, leading to MAGA making threats against the United Nations for their own screw up.”

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Cable News Clips»Trump humiliated by UN es...»Reply #1