California Governor Gavin Newsom drew attention on Thursday for reportedly mocking President Trump over a minor logistical hiccup at the United Nations, posting a brief video of a gold-rimmed escalator that appeared stalled.
In a post on social platform X, Newsom called it “A REAL DISGRACE” and added, “Escalator was broken at Trump Tower today.” He concluded with the declaration, “I’ve launched an investigation into this matter,” though it was unclear when or where the video had been recorded.
The episode followed Trump’s remarks to the U.N. General Assembly earlier this week, where he recounted that an escalator at the New York headquarters stopped functioning as he and the first lady were entering the assembly hall.
According to Trump, the first lady navigated the stationary steps safely, and he followed behind her.
“All I got from the United Nations was an escalator on the way up that stopped in the middle,” Trump said during his address. “If the first lady wasn’t in great shape, she would’ve fallen, but she’s in great shape. We’re both in good shape,” he added, prompting laughter from the assembly. He also noted technical difficulties with a teleprompter during his speech, quipping, “These are the two things I got from the United Nations — a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter, thank you very much.”
Newsom’s post came across as facetious, drawing criticism from conservatives who argued that the California governor was trivializing the concerns of an American president while spending political energy on an inconsequential event.
Observers noted the contrast between the logistical minor mishap Trump highlighted and Newsom’s seemingly overblown response, which included the notion of an official “investigation.”
The Hill reported that the Trump Organization and the White House had not responded to immediate requests for comment, and Newsom’s office did not clarify the context or timing of the escalator clip.
Critics on social media noted that the governor’s response reflected a broader pattern of Democrats targeting Trump over relatively minor or symbolic matters, rather than engaging with substantive policy debates.
The incident adds to the ongoing narrative among Trump supporters that the president is frequently the subject of partisan attacks over trivial matters, while Newsom himself faces scrutiny over more pressing challenges in California, including ongoing issues with homelessness, energy reliability, and crime rates.
Trump’s remarks at the U.N. combined humor with a subtle critique of the international body’s infrastructure and preparedness. By contrast, Newsom’s public jibe — labeling a temporarily stalled escalator a “REAL DISGRACE” — was interpreted by many as an overreaction that underlined the political tension between the two figures.
As political commentators weighed in, some noted that the exchange underscored a broader cultural divide in U.S. politics: one side highlighting operational mishaps as a point of mockery, the other framing such moments as evidence of excessive partisanship or distraction from real-world governance.
Ultimately, what began as a simple mechanical failure became a symbolic skirmish in the ongoing feud between California Democrats and President Trump, reinforcing the perception among conservatives that critics often seize on minor events to score political points.
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