In the ever-theatrical world of American politics, few rivalries have been as public and as personal as that between California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump. Their latest spat unfolded with all the drama and spectacle that followers have come to expect, involving not only biting social media exchanges but also a malfunctioning escalator, late-night comedy jabs, and a flurry of online memes.
The saga began on September 23, 2025, when President Trump, 79, experienced an embarrassing mishap at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Just as he and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto the escalator leading into the building, it abruptly stopped. Trump later described the incident on his Truth Social account, alleging, “the people that did it should be arrested” and calling for an “immediate investigation.” He elaborated, “It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first. It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly or, it would have been a disaster.”
Trump’s complaints didn’t stop at the escalator. He also grumbled about a teleprompter malfunction during his General Assembly speech, which, in his words, still received “fantastic reviews.” Adding insult to injury, Melania reportedly couldn’t hear his address inside the hall. These grievances quickly became fodder for both his critics and supporters on social media, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplifying Trump’s posts by sharing screenshots on her official X account.
Enter Gavin Newsom. The 57-year-old Democratic governor, never one to shy away from a public spat, seized the moment. On September 25, as Trump’s rants made the rounds, Newsom responded on X with a video clip from inside Trump Tower in Manhattan. The footage showed two of the building’s iconic gilded escalators—immortalized in political lore since Trump’s 2015 campaign launch—standing motionless. Newsom’s caption was a tongue-in-cheek echo of Trump’s own style: “A REAL DISGRACE. Escalator was broken at Trump Tower today. I’ve launched an investigation into this matter.” The timing was no accident; Newsom was in New York for Climate Week, adding a layer of irony to his jab.
Newsom’s press office joined in, posting a parody in all-caps reminiscent of Trump’s Truth Social rants: “DOZY DON WAS DEFEATED BY THE ESCALATOR, POOR GUY! THE ENTIRE WORLD IS LAUGHING AT THE LOW IQ ‘PRESIDENT.’ NEXT STOP: THE BEST ROOM AT MEMORY MEADOWS RETIREMENT RESORT. TYLENOL INCLUDED. ENJOY YOUR STAY, DON! — GCN.”
While Trump cast the incident as part of a broader conspiracy to sabotage his appearance, the United Nations offered a far less dramatic explanation. According to a statement cited by The Daily Beast, the escalator’s central processing unit indicated that it was Trump’s own videographer who likely triggered a safety mechanism, causing the stoppage. Furthermore, a source familiar with the situation claimed the U.N. was not responsible for the teleprompter malfunction, suggesting Trump’s team failed to arrive early enough to ensure their equipment was set up properly.
Comedians and commentators wasted no time jumping into the fray. On September 23, ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel aired a 1990 CNN interview clip in which Trump admitted, “I’ve always been thin-skinned. I’ve been thin-skinned since day one.” Kimmel, a longtime Trump adversary, used the footage to lampoon the president’s reaction to the escalator incident. Jon Stewart, on his podcast, quipped that it was only fitting for an escalator to play a “pivotal” role during Trump’s U.N. visit, given the president’s history with escalators.
Newsom’s strategy of trolling Trump isn’t new. For months, he’s been building his national profile by ridiculing the president’s policies and penchant for social media drama. In August, Newsom began selling MAGA-inspired merchandise, including “Newsom Was Right About Everything” hats and “Trump Is Not Hot” tank tops. His website even offered $100 Bibles as a spoof of Trump’s “God Bless The USA Bible.”
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 23, Newsom discussed his approach. “Everything we were doing to try and break through wasn’t working anymore,” he told Colbert. “So, we decided to do something novel… It’s called humor.” Newsom didn’t stop there. He made a pointed remark about Trump’s dominance in the media: “He is flooding the zone, he is dominating the narratives, facts don’t seem to matter.” He also referenced “41 lawsuits against the son of a b—h,” drawing raucous applause from the audience before adding, “We’re not gonna listen to this guy. We’re not going to listen to him try to pronounce acetaminophen.”
The online crowd was as divided as ever. Some users mocked Trump’s reaction, with one writing, “Throwing a temper tantrum just because the escalator couldn’t support his weight.” Another joked about Trump’s self-praise, saying, “His speech got good reviews, according to the orange man himself? Hahaha… The world was laughing at him… even MAGA knows it.” On the other hand, Trump’s loyalists bristled at the governor’s antics. “Gavin’s obsession with Trump is getting weird!” one supporter posted. Others, however, saw Newsom as a potential future president, with one user commenting, “I watched the [Newsom] interview on Colbert and kept thinking… that’s my president. He was so spot on.”
As for the substance behind the spectacle, the U.N.’s technical explanation and the apparent missteps by Trump’s own team did little to quell the controversy. The president’s insistence on foul play, combined with Newsom’s relentless mockery, kept the story alive far longer than a simple mechanical failure might have warranted.
For Newsom, this episode is just the latest in a long line of efforts to position himself as a prominent national figure within the Democratic Party. His willingness to go toe-to-toe with Trump, adopting the president’s own combative style but infusing it with humor and satire, has earned him both admirers and detractors. Whether this approach will pay dividends in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, it ensures he remains at the center of the national conversation—escalator mishaps and all.
In the end, what might have been a fleeting embarrassment for the president has become another chapter in the ongoing political theater between two of America’s most high-profile politicians, each determined to have the last laugh.
