Macron uses street standoff to reach Trump on UN trip as France recognizes Palestinian statehood

Macron was blocked on a New York street Monday night as police closed the road to clear a VIP motorcade, moments after he had delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in which France formally recognized Palestinian statehood. He pulled out his phone and called President Donald Trump, telling officers that he could reach the U.S. leader anytime. French media filmed the exchange, and a French official later confirmed to The Associated Press that Trump was indeed on the line with Macron during the moment of the brief delay.

The president explained to the officers that he was trying to cross to France's diplomatic mission in New York with about 10 people in his group, and that the street reopening would determine whether he could continue on foot. “How are you?” Macron said, as officers urged patience while the motorcade passed and the road remained closed for the movement of foreign leaders. “Everything's frozen right now.” The officers apologized and said they were facilitating passage for the VIP convoy; moments later, the street reopened and Macron resumed his walk.

Earlier in the day, Macron had addressed the UN General Assembly and announced that France formally recognizes Palestinian statehood. The move was aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict in the Middle East and followed a parallel push to mobilize international pressure on Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The recognition was announced at the start of a high-profile UN session focused on Gaza and broader regional security.

French officials and diplomats said the street scene underscored Macron’s image as a hands-on leader who can reach the U.S. president when diplomacy requires it. Macron’s aides have repeatedly noted that he claims to be able to reach Trump at any time, a point he demonstrated publicly as leaders gathered in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders.

The exchange came as Macron simultaneously sought to maintain momentum on France's Palestinian statehood push and to keep channels open with Washington on broader Middle East strategy. He told reporters that he hoped to hold a weekend discussion with Trump and Qatar on Gaza's future, signaling that Paris would continue to press for a negotiated, two-state framework even as the UN pursues a broader international consensus. The episode reflects the high-tension environment in New York during the General Assembly, where many leaders are advancing parallel diplomacy on a volatile regional puzzle.

In Paris, French officials said the UN meeting and the lineup of state visits would shape Paris’s diplomacy in the weeks ahead, including how France coordinates with allies about humanitarian relief and security in Gaza. The moment on a New York street added a human element to a crowded international agenda, illustrating how personal access to leaders can influence real-time diplomacy amid major policy decisions.