Leave it to Greg Gutfeld to turn a viral video into a primetime firestorm.
On Wednesday night’s episode of Gutfeld!, the Fox News host reacted to footage showing former President Donald Trump stepping onto an escalator at the United Nations headquarters — only for the machinery to suddenly jolt and malfunction. The clip, already circulating widely on social media, sparked jokes and conspiracy theories online. But when it landed on Gutfeld’s desk, the late-night king turned it into headline drama.
As the panel watched the footage, Gutfeld leaned forward, eyebrows raised. “No question,” he said, his tone both serious and mocking. “They did this to Trump on purpose.”
The audience erupted into gasps and laughter. Co-host Kat Timpf cracked a grin, while Tyrus folded his arms, shaking his head with a smirk. “Greg,” Tyrus said, “are you suggesting there’s a Deep State escalator division?”
The line drew laughs, but Gutfeld didn’t back down. “Look, you don’t just have a UN escalator suddenly misfire the SECOND Trump steps on it. Come on. The timing is too perfect. If it wasn’t sabotage, it was sabotage-adjacent.”
Kat jumped in with her signature sarcasm: “Yes, Greg, clearly the international community held a secret meeting and said, ‘Forget policy, let’s just rig the escalator.’”
The studio roared, but the conversation quickly shifted into a broader debate about Trump’s history with viral clips. From awkward dance moves to meme-worthy facial expressions, Trump has often found himself the star of moments that explode online — sometimes making him a punchline, other times reinforcing his image as an unshakable figure who brushes off ridicule.
“This is what they do,” Gutfeld continued. “They turn him into a cartoon. They think if they laugh at him enough, he’ll go away. Guess what? He never goes away. He takes the escalator hit, dusts himself off, and keeps going.”
The panel split in their reactions. Kat insisted it was “just a funny accident,” while Tyrus suggested it didn’t matter whether it was intentional or not. “Trump wins either way,” he said. “If it’s sabotage, he’s a fighter. If it’s a glitch, he’s still the guy walking into the UN while the building falls apart around him. That’s branding.”
Clips of the segment spread quickly online, with #EscalatorGate and #Gutfeld trending within hours. Supporters cheered Gutfeld’s fiery defense of Trump, with one fan tweeting: “Greg says what everyone’s thinking — they’ll try ANYTHING to embarrass Trump.” Critics, meanwhile, mocked the theory as over-the-top. “Imagine thinking the UN has a sabotage squad for escalators,” one user wrote.
Still, the viral power of both the original video and Gutfeld’s reaction was undeniable. By Thursday morning, the clip had amassed millions of views across platforms, further cementing Trump’s status as both a political lightning rod and a meme machine.
For Gutfeld, the moment was vintage: a mix of satire, provocation, and cultural commentary that kept the audience guessing whether he was joking — or dead serious.
As the segment ended, he leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Hey, all I’m saying is — check the escalator repair logs.”
The crowd erupted once more, and the internet had its latest flashpoint.