French President Emmanuel Macron found himself caught in the gridlock of New York City late Monday night after President Donald Trump’s motorcade brought traffic to a halt.
The French leader was forced to call Trump directly, joking that he was stranded on the street because “everything is frozen for you.”
The incident unfolded as world leaders gathered in Manhattan for the annual United Nations General Assembly.
Video footage showed Macron stepping out of his car and eventually walking through the city with his entourage for half an hour to reach his destination.
Before the call, a New York police officer was filmed apologising to the French delegation, explaining that traffic had been locked down for security reasons.
“I’m sorry, Mister President, I’m really sorry,” the officer said. “There’s a motorcade coming right now. That’s why.”
A source close to Macron described the subsequent phone call with Trump as warm and friendly, adding that the two leaders spoke about international issues, including the crisis in Gaza.
Trump, who addressed the UN Assembly on Tuesday for the first time since 2020, criticised the organisation and defended his record in office.
“I ended seven wars, dealt with the leaders of each and every one of these countries, and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help in finalising the deal,” he said.
He also attacked member states’ immigration policies and accused the UN of “funding an assault on Western countries.”
