Macron Calls Trump After NYPD Blocks Him During UN General Assembly Gridlock

NEW YORK (AP): French President Emmanuel Macron found himself in an unusual diplomatic standstill on Monday night when New York police barred him from crossing a street near the United Nations headquarters, forcing him into an impromptu phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The incident unfolded just hours after Macron addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he announced France’s formal recognition of Palestinian statehood—a move that drew global attention and underscored his push for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Stopped on the Sidewalk

Accompanied by around ten aides and security officers, Macron was attempting to walk from the UN complex to France’s permanent mission when NYPD officers stopped him, explaining that the area was “frozen” for security reasons.

Video footage, quickly picked up by social media platforms, shows Macron politely but firmly negotiating with officers. “I have ten people with me. So… I go to the French Embassy,” Macron can be heard saying, gesturing towards his entourage. One officer responded apologetically: “I’m sorry, President. It’s just that everything is frozen right now. There’s a motorcade coming away.”

Undeterred, Macron tried to press his case. “Let me cross. I negotiate with you,” he replied, drawing amused reactions online for his mix of diplomacy and impatience.

The Trump Call

As the standoff stretched on, Macron pulled out his phone and placed a direct call to President Trump—an exchange that was partly audible in the video. Macron greeted him with a touch of humor: “How are you? Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you!”

He also steered the conversation toward geopolitics, reportedly suggesting a weekend discussion with Trump and Qatar on the worsening situation in Gaza. French officials later confirmed the call was genuine and emphasized that Macron has long maintained the ability to reach Trump directly.

The motorcade in question was indeed Trump’s, as both leaders were in New York for the UNGA. After roughly 30 minutes, the street was reopened, and Macron and his group proceeded on foot. Bystander videos showed him walking briskly along the sidewalk, occasionally interacting with New Yorkers—including one moment where he exchanged greetings with a passerby who leaned in for a cheek kiss.

Social Media Reactions

The footage went viral almost immediately, with users on X (formerly Twitter) seizing on the optics. Some described it as a “humiliating” scene, with one post declaring, “Macron humiliated again: his motorcade stopped in New York because of Trump.” Others, however, praised the French president’s ability to joke about the situation and turn a logistical headache into a moment of diplomatic banter.

The White House has not released details of Trump’s side of the exchange, while the Elysée Palace offered no official comment beyond confirming the “lighthearted nature” of the conversation.

A Complicated Relationship

This episode adds another chapter to Macron and Trump’s high-profile relationship, which has swung between warmth and tension. During Trump’s first presidency, the two men alternated between displays of camaraderie—such as Macron inviting Trump to Paris for Bastille Day in 2017—and sharp clashes over climate change, trade, and multilateralism.

Now, with Trump back in office following his 2024 election victory, the dynamic has shifted again. Macron’s recognition of Palestine highlights a divergence from Washington’s traditional stance, while both leaders continue to coordinate on the Israel-Hamas conflict and other global crises.

The Broader Context

Macron’s UN speech earlier in the day focused heavily on multilateral cooperation and climate action. But it was his announcement on Palestinian statehood that dominated headlines, placing France among a growing list of European nations pushing the issue amid long-stalled peace talks.

Trump, in his own UN address, emphasized his “America First” priorities, stressing border security, trade imbalances, and the need for stronger sovereignty in global affairs.

The sidewalk episode served as a symbolic reminder of the chaos that UN week brings to New York City, where motorcades, security cordons, and traffic freezes can reduce even world leaders to frustrated pedestrians.

As one social media user quipped after Macron’s video spread: “If even presidents can’t cross the street in New York during UNGA, what chance do the rest of us have?”