On Thursday afternoon, September 25, 2025, an unsettling incident unfolded at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, drawing attention to security lapses and intensifying political tensions. Patricia Schuh, a 62-year-old protester, allegedly assaulted Sara Kennedy, a senior adviser to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a dramatic confrontation that has since sparked outrage from U.S. officials and raised questions about safety protocols at one of the world’s most secure venues.
According to reports from the New York Post and Fox News Digital, the altercation began when Schuh approached Kennedy in a hallway at the U.N. headquarters, shining a blinding light directly into her face while shouting “Free Palestine.” The encounter quickly escalated as Schuh chased Kennedy across the lobby, hurling insults and following her into a bathroom while screaming “slut.” Kennedy, in an attempt to escape, locked herself in a stall, but Schuh pursued her, continuing to scream and allegedly scratching Kennedy’s right eye—possibly with a phone or jewelry—before finally being stopped.
Kennedy was at the U.N. to support Secretary Kennedy, who was meeting with officials to discuss the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. The incident, which occurred inside the U.N.’s highly secured premises at 45th Street, left Kennedy shaken and injured. She was treated by medics for her eye injury on-site but declined further hospital treatment, as reported by Fox News Digital.
Reflecting on the encounter, Kennedy described it as “very disorienting.” In an interview with Fox News Digital, she recounted, “Once I took a step back and regained my footing, it didn’t stop. I realized what was happening. I realized I was being yelled at and that the light was also a recording device.” The situation, she said, felt intensely political and personal. “It felt very political in nature,” Kennedy added. “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.”
The alleged assailant, Patricia Schuh, was swiftly arrested by New York City police and charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. She was released from custody the following night and is expected to appear in court on November 13, 2025, according to Fox News Digital.
The U.N. incident did not occur in isolation. It came amid a week of high-profile security concerns and political drama at the annual United Nations General Assembly. Just days earlier, former President Donald Trump and his administration had publicly complained about what they called “triple sabotage” during Trump’s appearance at the summit. The alleged sabotage included a broken escalator, a malfunctioning teleprompter, and speaker system failures, all of which Trump claimed were orchestrated by U.N. staff to undermine his visit.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “This wasn’t a coincidence, this was triple sabotage at the UN. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.” He described a near-accident involving himself and his wife Melania when an escalator stopped abruptly as they stepped on. “It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first,” Trump stated. “It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly or, it would have been a disaster.”
The United Nations, for its part, suggested that a videographer from Trump’s own team may have inadvertently triggered the emergency stop on the escalator, according to UNTV and REUTERS. Nonetheless, the string of incidents has fueled suspicions and deepened mistrust between U.S. officials and U.N. staff, especially among Trump’s supporters.
The assault on Sara Kennedy has only added fuel to the fire. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly did not mince words, telling Fox News Digital, “An HHS official was followed into a bathroom, recorded, physically assaulted and verbally accosted by a deranged leftist at the U.N. who somehow entered the venue past multiple layers of security.” Kelly linked the episode to the other recent mishaps, saying, “Thankfully, the official is safe, and the lunatic was arrested, but this is part of a disturbing and dangerous set of failures by the U.N. after their sabotage of President Trump ahead of and during his speech.”
A spokesperson for the United Nations also expressed outrage over the breach of safety, telling Fox News Digital, “We are outraged that a member of the US delegation was physically assaulted inside of UN Headquarters the afternoon of Sept 25. This attack must be addressed swiftly, and consequences must be felt.”
Security at the United Nations is typically regarded as among the tightest in the world, especially during the General Assembly when world leaders, diplomats, and their entourages converge on New York City. The fact that Schuh was able to enter, confront, and physically assault a senior U.S. official has prompted a flurry of internal reviews and a reported investigation by the Secret Service, as noted by Fox News Digital.
For many observers, the incident underscores the volatile intersection of global politics, protest movements, and concerns about personal safety for public officials. The protester’s invocation of “Free Palestine” reflects the charged atmosphere that often surrounds international gatherings, where passionate activism can sometimes spill over into confrontation. Yet, as this episode demonstrates, even the most secure environments are not immune to breaches.
Sara Kennedy, reflecting on her ordeal, told Fox News Digital that the attack was not just random but emblematic of a broader trend. “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.” The sense of vulnerability, she suggested, is growing among U.S. officials, even in places where they expect the highest level of protection.
As the investigation continues, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the United Nations and its security apparatus. Calls for accountability have grown louder, with officials from both the U.S. and the U.N. demanding swift action to prevent similar incidents in the future. With Patricia Schuh’s court date set for November, and the Secret Service reportedly involved, the outcome of this case will be closely watched by diplomats and security experts alike.
The week’s events at the U.N. have highlighted not only the challenges of maintaining order in a polarized world but also the very real risks faced by those tasked with representing their nations on the global stage. For Sara Kennedy and her colleagues, the memory of that Thursday afternoon will likely linger as a stark reminder that, in today’s climate, even the safest spaces can become arenas for unexpected—and unwelcome—confrontation.
