macron Briefly Blocked in New York, Calls Trump to Negotiate Street Access
NEW YORK – French President emmanuel Macron found himself unexpectedly stalled in a New york City street Monday following a speech at the united Nations, prompting him to call U.S. President Donald Trump in an attempt to resolve the situation. French media reported and a French official confirmed to the Associated Press that Macron was prevented from walking to France’s diplomatic mission due to security protocols freezing traffic for Trump’s motorcade.
The incident occurred shortly after Macron announced France’s formal recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN, a move intended to galvanize support for a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict. The temporary disruption highlights the complexities of international diplomacy and security arrangements in a major global city, and underscores the ongoing efforts to address the crisis in Gaza. Macron’s call to Trump demonstrates a willingness to engage directly with the U.S. on pressing regional issues.
According to reports, Macron initially dialed trump while waiting on the sidewalk with a group of ten people. “How are you?” Macron reportedly said. ”Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you!”
A police officer on the scene apologized to Macron, explaining, “I’m really sorry, it’s just that everything’s frozen right now.” Macron then used the call as an prospect to discuss the situation in Gaza, stating, “I would love this weekend have a short discussion with Qatar and you on the situation in Gaza.”
French media outlets reported that traffic resumed and Macron was able to continue his walk to the French diplomatic mission a few minutes later. France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, announced at the start of a high-profile UN meeting, is a significant step in the ongoing pursuit of a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.