Trump motorcade again disrupts NYC streets as Erdoğan waits; Macron held up last day

New York — The motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump again disrupted traffic in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan waited on a blocked street to let Trump’s convoy pass. The moment occurred as Erdoğan left the United Nations headquarters during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, following a related disruption the previous day when French President Emmanuel Macron was held up by police while Trump's convoy moved through the city.

Video from the UN complex shows Erdoğan, flanked by security and aides, standing on the curb as officers kept crowds back to clear the way for the passing motorcade. The Turkish leader’s reaction appeared tense but composed as the procession rolled past. The episode echoed a scene a day earlier with Macron, who was seen on video trying to reach France’s diplomatic mission on foot after delivering a UN speech while roads were closed.

Macron’s experience drew particular attention because he spoke on the phone with Trump during the delay. In the clip, Macron can be heard saying, 'Guess what, I'm waiting in the street right now because everything's frozen for you.' He also asserted that he had '10 people with me' as he sought to navigate past officers toward France’s diplomatic mission after his UN remarks. A police official later apologized to the French president, saying, 'I'm sorry President, I'm really sorry, it's just that everything's frozen right now.'

Social media users weighed in, with some describing the moments as a blunt display of influence by Trump and his security detail. Others called the episodes a powerful signal about who commands access to space around global leaders, while critics argued they amounted to protocol breaches and public snubs. The conversations reflected broader questions about how security protocols can affect the diplomacy unfolding on the world stage.

The incidents occurred as dozens of world leaders gathered in New York for the General Assembly. While the UN has long sought cooperation among nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that international cooperation is straining under pressures unseen in living memory. The annual gathering, which brings roughly 150 of the 193 member states to UN headquarters, is meant to address conflicts, climate change, economic development and other global challenges, even as the institution grapples with security and governance challenges.

Experts say the episodes highlight the friction between rapid security movements and formal diplomatic protocol in a crowded urban setting. They note that such moments can become symbolic signals about influence and leadership on the world stage, especially during a high-profile gathering like the UN General Assembly in New York.