French President Emmanuel Macron experienced an unexpected delay in New York City on Monday when his convoy was halted due to security measures for US President Donald Trump's motorcade. This incident occurred shortly after Macron delivered a significant speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where he announced France's recognition of the State of Palestine.

As Macron exited the UN headquarters, New York police informed him that traffic was blocked for Trump's convoy. A video of the encounter quickly went viral, showing a police officer apologising to Macron, saying, "I’m sorry, Mr President, everything is blocked right now." In a light-hearted moment, Macron made a phone call to Trump, joking, "Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is blocked for you."

Despite the area eventually being reopened to pedestrians, Macron had to continue his conversation while walking towards the French Embassy. During this time, he interacted with bystanders, posed for selfies, and even received a kiss on the forehead from a passerby. This rare scene of a world leader casually walking through the streets of New York highlighted the complexities of security arrangements during such high-profile events.

The traffic freeze around the UN is a common occurrence whenever the US president is in the vicinity, causing significant disruptions in the city. Trump arrived in New York on Monday evening to participate in the UNGA, where he is set to address global leaders on Tuesday morning, marking his first speech at the UNGA during his second term.