French President Emmanuel Macron was temporarily halted by New York City police on Monday as they made way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s motorcade during Macron’s visit to the UN General Assembly. A video shared by French news outlet BFMTV captured Macron seemingly calling Trump, reportedly expressing frustration over the delay.
The incident occurred as Macron was en route from the UN headquarters to the French Embassy, where he had participated in a formal recognition of Palestine. Police officers blocked traffic to allow Trump’s convoy through, leading to the temporary disruption of Macron’s movement. The video shows Macron standing in the street, speaking with a police officer who apologizes for the delay, explaining that a motorcade is coming right up the street.
Macron replies, “If you can’t see it, let me pass. I’ll negotiate with you,” before taking out his phone and apparently calling Trump. “How are you? Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is closed down for you,” Macron is heard saying. The French president reportedly had to wait several minutes and then continued towards the embassy on foot.
Trump is known to have shared his private phone number with foreign leaders, including Macron, to encourage direct communication. Politico noted in July that Macron was among those in regular contact. The incident highlights the complexities of diplomatic interactions and the logistical challenges of high-profile visits to major cities.