Emmanuel Macron calls Donald Trump after being blocked by US President's convoy
French President Emmanuel Macron and his entourage faced an unusual delay on Monday when they were held up in Manhattan as New York Police cleared the streets for US President Donald Trump’s motorcade.
The incident occurred shortly after Macron delivered his speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he formally announced France’s recognition of the State of Palestine.
A video circulating on social media shows Macron speaking with a police officer, who told him: “I’m sorry, Mr President, I’m so sorry. It’s just that everything is frozen right now. There is a motorcade coming.” Macron then appeared to call Trump, joking: “Guess what, I’m waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you.”
French President Macron phoned US President Trump after being stopped at a New York street blocked off for his US counterpart's motorcade during the United Nations General Assembly pic.twitter.com/dIk13aIu7I
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 23, 2025
Once the convoy passed, the French President continued on foot toward the French Embassy, walking for nearly half an hour. Along the way, New Yorkers stopped him for greetings and photographs.
At the high-level summit co-convened by France and Saudi Arabia, Macron made the landmark declaration of France’s recognition of Palestine, underscoring support for a two-state solution.
He was joined by leaders from Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco, who also formally extended recognition.
The summit was boycotted by Israel and the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the move, calling it a “gift to Hamas” and restricting Palestinian leaders’ access to the event.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in contrast, reaffirmed that “Palestinian statehood is a right and not a reward.”
Macron’s announcement marks a significant moment in the international debate over Palestinian statehood, though it has also deepened divisions with Washington and Tel Aviv.
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