At the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, an unusual incident and shocking comments from a Fox News reporter made headlines. After an escalator in the UN building stopped during US President Donald Trump’s presidency, journalist Jesse Watters expressed disturbing thoughts about an attack on the UN headquarters during a livestream. This statement sparked strong reactions at the United Nations and in the international media, including ZDF, ARD, Bild, Der Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit, taz, and RTL.
Background to the escalator-related incident at the UN and its media coverage
On the day of Donald Trump’s visit to the UN in New York, an escalator that the President and his delegation were using unexpectedly stopped moving. The disruption forced Trump to climb the stairs himself. According to initial investigations, a safety mechanism may have been inadvertently triggered by a member of the US delegation. Regardless, Trump suspected “sabotage” and called for investigations and arrests.
Disturbing comments from a Fox News reporter and reactions from the UN
Jesse Watters, a host of the Trump-aligned US network Fox News, uttered the phrase “Shouldn’t they bomb the building or maybe gas it?” during a live broadcast following the incident. His co-host tried in vain to steer the debate in a more objective direction. The UN expressed horror at this call for violence against an international institution. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric called these statements “unacceptable” and emphasized that Watters had already apologized for his remarks.
Dujarric recalled that the UN has been the target of brutal attacks in the past, resulting in tragic losses of staff in Iraq (2022) and Algeria (2007). The UN emphasized how sensitively and seriously the threat to its facilities is taken, especially in light of current political tensions and attacks on international organizations.
Media and public response to the statements of a Fox News journalist
Reporting and commentary in major German media outlets, including Der Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit, taz, and RTL, reflected the profound rejection of Jesse Watters’ statement. In addition to condemning such statements, the importance and challenges of the UN in today’s geopolitical landscape were once again discussed. ZDF and ARD news also covered the issue, emphasizing the responsibility that journalists bear in a democracy.
| Media source | Type of reporting | Focus points |
|---|---|---|
| Fox News | Controversial live commentary | Provocation and apology |
| UN official | Statement and distancing | Future of protection and security mechanisms |
| Der Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung | Critical reporting | Analysis of the significance of the UN and media responsibility |
| ZDF, ARD, RTL | News format | Public response and political context |
Impact on public perception of the UN
The incident once again brought the fragility of the international organization to the global public’s attention. Discussions about reforms and more protection for security structures became louder, especially since the UN continues to play a key role in peace and security. The reactions demonstrated the sensitivity towards verbal attacks as an indirect threat to global institutions.
Source: www.spiegel.de
