French President Emmanuel Macron briefly found himself on the wrong side of New York City road closures Monday night when police halted his car to make way for President Donald Trump’s motorcade near the United Nations.
Video from the scene shows Macron stepping out of his vehicle and asking an officer why traffic had stopped.
“I am sorry, Mr President. Everything is blocked now,” one police officer is heard telling Macron.
When told the U.S. president’s convoy was about to pass, Macron pulled out his phone and dialed Trump.
“How are you? Guess what happened?
I’m waiting in the street because everything is closed for you,” he was heard saying, before joking, “Clear the road.” The exchange was captured in clips widely shared by social media platform.
Macron is in New York attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly held on Tuesday. He was heading to the French Embassy when the stop was made. After a temporary wait, he proceeded some blocks further, smiling for pictures with the crowd.
There were no reports of security issues or arrests connected to the brief stoppage. For New Yorkers—and visiting dignitaries—the moment served as a light snapshot of life inside the U.N. bubble: motorcades first, patience required.
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