New York: A unique diplomatic moment unfolded on Monday in Manhattan when French President Emmanuel Macron’s convoy was stopped by the New York Police Department (NYPD) shortly after he had announced France’s recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations. The reason for the unusual delay was a road closure to allow U.S. President Donald Trump’s motorcade to pass.
Video footage of the incident, which has since gone viral, shows Macron briefly stepping out of his car as an NYPD officer apologizes, explaining that “everything is blocked at the moment” due to Trump’s passage through Midtown.
Taking the moment in stride, Macron reportedly pulled out his phone and made a lighthearted call to Trump. “How are you? Guess what, I’m waiting in the street right now because everything is blocked for you. Clear the way,” he quipped. While Trump’s reply has not been disclosed, the exchange provided a rare glimpse of the informal side of international relations.
The incident occurred just after Macron’s address at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, where he declared France’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine, a move coordinated with several other nations. France joins a growing list of countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, that have recently recognized Palestine. With these new recognitions, the total number of nations that officially recognize Palestine has risen to 156. The recognition is seen as a significant diplomatic step, particularly for Western nations, and comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks.
The traffic gridlock lasted for several minutes, attracting a crowd of onlookers who captured photos and videos. Eventually, Macron and his team decided to walk part of the distance to the French Embassy, with the French president stopping to take photos with people on the street, further diffusing the tense security situation with a touch of celebrity charm.
The incident served as a reminder of the logistical challenges of hosting a global summit in New York and the occasional unexpected encounters that can arise from it.