By — Dan Cooney Dan Cooney Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-trump-opens-u-n-general-assembly-speech-with-apparent-teleprompter-malfunction Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump opens U.N. General Assembly speech with apparent teleprompter malfunction World Sep 23, 2025 2:35 PM EDT President Donald Trump said he was delivering his speech to the United Nations General Assembly without the use of a working teleprompter. Watch the clip in the video player above. Trump stepped to the podium in New York Tuesday morning, thanked the crowd inside the hall and then opened his binder once he realized the teleprompter was down. WATCH LIVE: Day 1 of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working,” Trump said. “I feel very happy to be up here with you nevertheless, and, that way, you speak more from the heart.” The president referenced the malfunctioning teleprompter again, saying, “I can only say that whoever’s operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” drawing laughs from the crowd. WATCH: Secretary-General Guterres warns ‘the pillars of peace and progress are buckling’ at U.N. General Assembly The teleprompter later turned on, Trump said as he was delivering his speech. Find more of our 2025 U.N. General Assembly coverage WATCH LIVE: Day 1 of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly WATCH: Trump escalates criticism of UN in first General Assembly address since reelection WATCH: What to expect at this week’s U.N. General Assembly meetings WATCH: Brazil’s Lula pushes for ‘civilized relationship’ with U.S. amid tensions with Trump We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Dan Cooney Dan Cooney Dan Cooney is the PBS NewsHour's Social Media Producer/Coordinator. @IAmDanCooney
President Donald Trump said he was delivering his speech to the United Nations General Assembly without the use of a working teleprompter. Watch the clip in the video player above. Trump stepped to the podium in New York Tuesday morning, thanked the crowd inside the hall and then opened his binder once he realized the teleprompter was down. WATCH LIVE: Day 1 of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly “I don’t mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working,” Trump said. “I feel very happy to be up here with you nevertheless, and, that way, you speak more from the heart.” The president referenced the malfunctioning teleprompter again, saying, “I can only say that whoever’s operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” drawing laughs from the crowd. WATCH: Secretary-General Guterres warns ‘the pillars of peace and progress are buckling’ at U.N. General Assembly The teleprompter later turned on, Trump said as he was delivering his speech. Find more of our 2025 U.N. General Assembly coverage WATCH LIVE: Day 1 of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly WATCH: Trump escalates criticism of UN in first General Assembly address since reelection WATCH: What to expect at this week’s U.N. General Assembly meetings WATCH: Brazil’s Lula pushes for ‘civilized relationship’ with U.S. amid tensions with Trump We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now