“A bad escalator and a bad teleprompter” — Trump implies UN sabotaged him, while he saved millions.

“A bad escalator and a bad teleprompter” — Trump implies UN sabotaged him, while he saved millions.

Donald Trump opened his United Nations speech not with policy, but with a story about a broken escalator and a dead teleprompter—suggesting the UN was more interested in tripping up the First Lady than stopping wars.

From there, Trump drew a stark contrast: while the UN produces strongly worded letters that lead nowhere, he claims he saved “millions and millions of lives” by ending wars and negotiating the Abraham Accords. The United Nations, in his telling, has “tremendous potential” but delivers only malfunctions, empty statements, and missed opportunities.

Highlights from Trump’s UN remarks:

Escalators and teleprompters cast as symbols of sabotage

The First Lady’s footing becomes a metaphor for global stability

UN called out for “strongly worded letters” instead of results

Trump credits himself with saving millions through action

The UN portrayed as broken while he takes credit for peace

It’s Trump positioning himself as the indispensable dealmaker—and the UN as the world’s most expensive malfunction.