On September 24, 2025, the usually stately halls of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City were anything but serene. As diplomats and dignitaries gathered for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a shocking incident unfolded that has since raised urgent questions about security, political polarization, and the very role of the UN as a global diplomatic center.
According to Fox News Digital, a Trump administration official working in international relations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was physically assaulted by a woman described by authorities as a “deranged leftist.” The official, who was in New York serving in a support role for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the department’s leadership team, was followed into a bathroom, verbally accosted, recorded, and physically attacked. The incident, which lasted approximately ten minutes, left the official shaken but physically safe.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital, “An HHS official was followed into a bathroom, recorded, physically assaulted and verbally accosted by a deranged leftist at the UN who somehow entered the venue past multiple layers of security. Thankfully, the official is safe, and the lunatic was arrested, but this is part of a disturbing and dangerous set of failures by the UN after their sabotage of President Trump ahead of and during his speech.”
The attacker was later identified as 62-year-old Patricia Schuh. She was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to WHAM-13. After being booked, Schuh was released from jail and is scheduled to appear in court on November 13, 2025. The assault, which occurred inside one of the world’s most tightly secured buildings, has prompted an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service into how Schuh managed to gain access to such a high-profile event.
Describing the ordeal to Fox News Digital, the victim recounted, “I was walking down the hallway at the UN when a woman began verbally berating me and shining a bright light in my face. It was very disorienting.” The official explained that the attacker’s language quickly escalated, with Schuh shouting derogatory and pro-Palestinian comments, and repeatedly calling her a “fascist” and a “Nazi.” Seeking refuge, the official retreated into the women’s bathroom, only to be pursued further. “Her yelling turned into screaming hyper-aggressive insults,” the official said, adding that she barricaded herself inside a stall while Schuh attempted to film her over the stall door. After a brief pause, the official exited the stall, but Schuh was waiting for her and continued the verbal assault and recording until the official was finally able to escape. “It felt very political in nature,” the official said. “Secretary Kennedy gets a tremendous number of bows and arrows and threats that he deals with, but it seems that it’s not enough, and it is trickling down. That’s a scary thing for the team. But we’re more empowered, and we have amazing leadership.”
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the UN expressed outrage, telling Fox News Digital, “We are outraged that a member of the U.S. delegation was physically assaulted inside UN Headquarters the afternoon of September 24. This attack must be addressed swiftly, and consequences must be felt.” The spokesperson admitted, “the UN itself recognizes that it has lost its way. Now it has devolved into an arena where an American delegation member is harassed and assaulted. If you can’t keep people safe in your own building, how can you claim to be the world’s diplomatic center?” The UN has pledged to cooperate fully with the U.S. Secret Service and to use every available resource to support the investigation. “We know the UN needs dramatic reform and now must also immediately implement a thorough review of the UN’s security operations. The UN’s failures are evident worldwide and now in its own halls. Enough is enough.”
UN officials clarified that Schuh was a guest at an event sponsored by a member state and had been issued the appropriate authorization to enter the premises. Like all other attendees, she was subject to a thorough security screening before entering. “Once UN authorities were made aware of the incident, they reacted swiftly. The alleged perpetrator was identified and detained. Soon after, she was handed over to the NYPD for arrest,” said a spokesman for the Secretary General.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of other unusual events during President Trump’s visit to the UNGA. Earlier that day, the escalator carrying President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump reportedly malfunctioned, halting unexpectedly and prompting speculation about whether it was a simple mishap or something more sinister. Later, during his address to the General Assembly, Trump’s teleprompter failed. Ever the showman, Trump quipped, “These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter.” He continued, “The US is the hottest country anywhere in the world, and there is no other country even close.”
On his Truth Social platform, Trump did not hold back, declaring, “A REAL DISGRACE took place at the United Nations yesterday — Not one, not two, but three very sinister events! This wasn’t a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN.”
Kelly, the White House Deputy Press Secretary, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating that the Secret Service would investigate “how this violent protester was admitted into a major national security event.” She also asserted, “The UN must answer why these highly concerning incidents continue to happen against the president and his staff.”
The incident has sparked heated debate about the state of security at international institutions and the rising tide of political aggression. Critics of the UN have seized on the episode as evidence of systemic failure, calling for sweeping reforms and a reassessment of security protocols. Others warn against politicizing the event, arguing that isolated acts of violence should not overshadow the UN’s broader mission of diplomacy and peacekeeping.
For those in the diplomatic community, however, the attack has struck a nerve. As one UN spokesperson put it, “Anyone granted access to the UN premises is expected to behave in an orderly manner and can be removed immediately if that’s not the case. At all times, but especially during the General Assembly, the cooperation between UN security and its host country law enforcement partners could not be closer or more professional.”
As the U.S. Secret Service and the United Nations undertake their investigations, the eyes of the world remain fixed on what should have been a routine gathering of world leaders. Instead, the UNGA of 2025 will be remembered for a troubling breach of security, a stark reminder that even the most fortified institutions are not immune to the passions and divisions of the outside world.
With the court date for Patricia Schuh set for November and calls for reform echoing through diplomatic circles, the aftermath of this incident will likely reverberate far beyond the marble corridors of the United Nations.
