Incident at the UN General Assembly
On September 23, 2025, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump faced a technical issue with the teleprompter. As he began his speech, he acknowledged the malfunction, stating, > "I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working."
The crowd responded with laughter. Trump continued, > "I feel very happy to be up here with you nevertheless, and that way you speak more from the heart. I can only say that whoever's operating this teleprompter is in big trouble," which further amused the audience.
Details of the Speech and Trump's Remarks
Trump's speech was delivered primarily from a paper copy of his remarks, as he had initially planned to rely on the teleprompter. The UN has a 15-minute voluntary time limit for each speech to accommodate the more than 193 countries represented.
In addition to the teleprompter issue, Trump made a comment about an escalator incident. He mentioned that earlier that morning, he and First Lady Melania Trump had encountered a problematic escalator. Trump jokingly suggested that Melania would have fallen if she weren't "in great shape."
Context and Significance of Trump's UN Address
The address was Trump's return to the UN General Assembly following his reelection. His speech included criticism of global institutions and commentary on various international issues.
Trump's Foreign Policy Assertions
During the speech, Trump boasted about his second-term foreign policy achievements. He expressed his views on global institutions, suggesting that they have "significantly decayed the world order."
Reactions and International Implications
World leaders present at the assembly responded with a mix of reactions, from laughter during the technical difficulties to attentive listening during the policy assertions.
Trump's Observations on UN Renovations and Contracts
In his speech, Trump also mentioned not securing a contract for renovations at the UN, implying potential dissatisfaction with the process.
Conclusion and Analysis
The incident with the teleprompter and Trump's comments on the escalator drew significant attention. The speech itself covered a range of topics, from foreign policy achievements to criticisms of global institutions.
The address showcased Trump's characteristic style of engaging with both the audience and the issues at hand directly.