French President Emmanuel Macron faced an unexpected roadblock in New York on Monday night when his official convoy was halted by the NYPD outside the United Nations headquarters.
Macron had just wrapped up his address at the UN General Assembly, where he formally announced France’s recognition of Palestine as a state, when his motorcade began moving toward the French Embassy.
However, the NYPD stopped the convoy, not due to protests or a security threat, but because former U.S. President Donald Trump’s motorcade was cutting across Midtown.
A viral video shows Macron stepping out of his car as an officer apologised: “I am sorry, Mr. President, I am really sorry. Everything is blocked at the moment.”
Taking the moment in stride, Macron called Trump on his phone, joking, “Guess what, I’m waiting in the street right now because everything is blocked for you.
Clear the way.” The traffic jam lasted several minutes, drawing crowds of pedestrians. Eventually, Macron continued on foot, pausing for photos with onlookers before heading toward his embassy.
