France’s Macron calls Trump after being stopped by police in New York
The French president was stopped while attempting to cross a street closed for a VIP motorcade during the UN assembly
French President Emmanuel Macron likes to say that he can get US President Donald Trump on the phone any time he wants. In New York for the UN General Assembly, he proved it.
Blocked on Monday night by police officers when he sought to cross a New York street – they told the French president the road was closed to let a VIP motorcade pass – Macron fished out his phone and dialled his US counterpart.
“How are you?” Macron said. “Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you!”
World leaders stuck on pavement by Trump motorcade
French media that filmed the scene said Trump was in fact on the other end of the line, which a French official confirmed to Associated Press.
Macron explained to the officers that he was trying to make his way on foot to France’s diplomatic mission in New York, after he delivered a speech at the United Nations in which he announced that France was formally recognising Palestinian statehood.
“I have 10 people with me,” Macron said, trying to negotiate passage across the street.
“I’m sorry, President, I’m really sorry, it’s just that everything’s frozen right now,” one of the police officers told Macron.