Trump mocks UN over broken escalator, teleprompter during his speech: 'Melania would have fallen'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: President Donald Trump turned technical mishaps into a punchline at the opening of his United Nations General Assembly address in New York City.

The president joked about a broken teleprompter and stalled escalator while also questioning the purpose of the UN during his wide-ranging remarks.

Donald Trump jokes about a teleprompter glitch in UN speech

As Trump took the podium, he was informed of a teleprompter glitch that rendered it inoperable.

Trump then took out the paper notes to make his speech and straight away made a joke about it in his opening remarks. 

“I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working,” Trump said, drawing laughter in the room.

“I feel very happy to be up here with you, nevertheless. And that way you speak more from the heart,” Trump added.

He then joked, “I can only say that whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble.”

He then relied on paper notes for the rest of his remarks.

Donald Trump says he and Melania are in 'great shape', mocking broken escalator and bad teleprompter

Trump tied the mishaps to what he described as broader failures of the United Nations.

Earlier in the day, an escalator stopped while he and the first lady were riding up to the UN building on New York’s East River.

“These are the two things I got from the United Nations, a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter. Thank you very much,” Trump told the audience in his speech.

He added, ”If the first lady wasn’t in great shape, she would have fallen, but she’s in great shape, we are in great shape, we both stood."

He later added, saying it appeared to be working again. “By the way, it's working now. Just went on. Thank you. I think I should just do it the other way,” he said.

Trump then questioned the purpose of the United Nations, saying, “What is the purpose of the United Nations?” Trump asked during the address.

“For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.”

Internet hails 'classic Trump'

Trump's joke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York quickly grabbed the attention, with many praising him for turning a bad experience into punchlines for his speech.

"Other world leaders probably feel like they've been called to the principal's office when Trump starts speaking," one wrote on X.

"Classic Trump energy, turning a technical glitch into a punchline while dragging the UN at the same time. Total domination," another one wrote.

"Classic Trump humor. He knows how to work a room, even when it's full of people who don't particularly like him," another person added.

"Always appreciative, 'Thank you very much!'" one wrote.

"Broken like the UN," another said.

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