Macron calls Trump for help after being forced to walk through NYC to avoid UN traffic
France's president is seen walking Manhattan streets after UN convoy blocks exit; he later recognizes the State of Palestine at the U.N.
French President Emmanuel Macron was forced to walk through Manhattan on Monday after his motorcade was blocked by traffic tied to United Nations operations, a moment captured in video showing him stepping out and pleading for a passage while calling President Donald Trump for help.
Macron had just finished delivering a controversial address at the United Nations General Assembly when the delay began. For roughly 30 minutes, he walked through streets near the U.N. campus, greeting bystanders and posing for photos as crowds gathered. At one point a bystander who was taking a photo with him bent down to kiss him on the head, a moment Macron appeared to deftly deflect as his security team managed the scene. In a clip circulated by Brut, Macron can be heard telling an NYPD officer that the road was blocked and later asking Trump to clear the way.
The episode occurred as Macron’s trip to New York carried a deliberate symbolic move: France formally recognized the State of Palestine at the UN, joining a handful of other nations that recently acknowledged a Palestinian state, a move intended to put pressure on Israel to ease the Gaza crisis. French officials said the gesture is largely symbolic but part of a broader international push on the issue, with Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Portugal having announced similar steps in recent days.
NYPD officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the blocked exit or the ensuing walk. The White House and the French presidency did not provide further details beyond the public statements surrounding the Palestine recognition. Trump was scheduled to speak at the UN on Tuesday, with both leaders in New York for the international gathering.
The incident underscored the practical challenges that can accompany high-level diplomatic events at the United Nations, where security logistics and convoy routes can create unexpected moments for world leaders. Macron’s willingness to engage with bystanders and continue his schedule, even while navigating an unplanned stroll through Midtown Manhattan, reflected a broader emphasis on public diplomacy during the UN week.