French President Emmanuel Macron, in New York for the 80th UN General Assembly, faced an unusual and rather awkward moment on Monday night after leaving the United Nations headquarters in Midtown Manhattan.
As Macron’s cavalcade headed towards the French Embassy on Fifth Avenue, New York Police Department (NYPD) officers forced it to stop due to road closures. The hold-up was not linked to protests but reportedly because US President Donald Trump’s motorcade was passing through.
Apparently, the incident took place after Macron delivered a United Nations speech in which he announced France’s formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Add Zee Business as a Preferred Source
Although the distance between the UN headquarters and the French Embassy is barely a mile, the French president had to wait on the street. An NYPD officer approached him, apologising: “I’m sorry, Mr. President. Everything has been frozen right now — there’s a motorcade coming right now.”
In now-viral footage circulating on social media, he can be seen stepping out of his vehicle to ask a police officer what was happening.
Also Read: UNGA 2025: Golden period for America, says Donald Trump
Everything is frozen for you: Macron tells Trump
Ever the diplomat with a sense of humour, Macron quickly called Trump: “How are you? Guess what, I’m waiting in the street right now because everything is frozen for you.” He even joked, urging Trump to “clear the way.”
“I would love this weekend have a short discussion with Qatar and you on the situation in Gaza,” the French president mentioned during his call with his US counterpart. The outcome of the exchange remains unclear, but the blockade lasted several minutes before pedestrian traffic was allowed.
For the first time in recent memory, New Yorkers got to see Macron walking the streets without heavy security. Along the way, he paused for selfies, posed for photos, and even allowed one passerby to plant a kiss on his forehead.
The unusual encounter quickly went viral on social media, with netizens having a field day.
Here’s how netizens reacted:
One user wrote on X, “Macron stuck in Trump traffic is peak 2025 crossover content. From world summits to bumper-to-bumper honking leaders, they’re just like us.” Another commented, “Macron stuck in Trump traffic is the most 2025 crossover episode nobody asked for. World leaders reduced to honking like the rest of us.”
‘Then I told him to walk’
One user shared a laughing image of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance and wrote, “And then I told him to walk.”
While another observed, “When Trump walks, Macron stands and watches. When Trump talks, Macron listens.” One user even suggested, “Macron better recognise. Money talks, bullshit walks.”
