The French president and his entourage were stopped to make way for his US counterpart’s convoy

FILE PHOTO. ©  Sean Gallup / Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron was stopped on the street by New York City police on Monday as they cleared the way for US President Donald Trump’s motorcade. Footage shared by French news channel BFMTV shows Macron calling Trump amid the incident in Manhattan.

Macron was in the city for the UN General Assembly, where France formally recognized the state of Palestine. After his speech, Macron and his entourage were heading from UN headquarters toward the French Embassy when officers blocked traffic to allow Trump’s convoy through.

A video released by BFMTV shows Macron standing in the street, speaking with a police officer who apologizes for the delay, explaining that a “motorcade [is] coming right up this way.”

 

Macron replies, “If you can’t see it, let me pass. I’ll negotiate with you,” before taking out his phone and apparently calling Trump.

”How are you? Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is closed down for you,” Macron is heard saying.

The French president reportedly had to wait several minutes and then continued towards the embassy on foot.

 

READ MORE: Trump ‘schmoozes’ with world leaders on personal mobile – Politico

Trump is reported to have handed out his private phone number to foreign leaders to encourage direct calls and texts. Politico noted in July that Macron was among those in regular contact.