French President Emmanuel Macron found himself experiencing the all-too-familiar frustrations of New York City traffic late Monday, when he was briefly stopped by police officers because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s motorcade.
Macron, who was walking with members of his delegation near the United Nations headquarters for the UN General Assembly, was halted at a barricade by a New York City police officer.
“I’m sorry, Mister President, I’m really sorry,” the visibly uneasy officer told Macron. “It’s just that everything’s been frozen right now. There’s a motorcade coming.”
Attempting to lighten the mood, Macron quipped: “If you don’t see it, let me cross. I negotiate with you,” making a playful nod to the diplomatic negotiations expected to dominate the week.
With traffic frozen and his path blocked, Macron decided to make the best of the moment. He pulled out his phone and called Trump directly.
“Guess what — I’m waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you,” Macron joked during the call, according to a widely shared video clip on social media. He then added that he wished to have a short discussion with Trump and Qatar about the ongoing situation in Gaza.
A source close to the French president confirmed the impromptu phone conversation, describing it as warm and friendly. The two leaders reportedly used the opportunity to exchange views on several international matters despite the unusual circumstances.
The lighthearted episode highlighted both the unpredictability of New York traffic during the UN summit and Macron’s ability to turn a moment of inconvenience into a diplomatic icebreaker.
