French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters.聽
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, arrives inside the General Assembly Hall for a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters.聽
PARIS (AP) 鈥 French President Emmanuel Macron likes to say that he can get President Donald Trump on the phone any time he wants. In New York for the U.N. General Assembly, he proved it.
Blocked on Monday night by police officers when he sought to cross a New York street 鈥 they told the French president the road was closed to let a VIP motorcade pass 鈥 Macron fished out his phone and dialed his U.S. counterpart.
鈥淗ow are you?鈥 Macron said. 鈥淕uess what? I鈥檓 waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you!鈥
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French media that filmed the scene said Trump was in fact on the other end of the line, which a French official confirmed to The Associated Press.
Macron explained to the officers that he was trying to make his way on foot to France鈥檚 diplomatic mission in New York, after he delivered in which he announced that France was formally .
鈥淚 have 10 people with me,鈥 Macron said, trying to negotiate passage across the street.
鈥淚鈥檓 sorry President, I鈥檓 really sorry, it鈥檚 just that everything鈥檚 frozen right now,鈥 one of the police officers told Macron.
But since he had Trump鈥檚 ear, Macron used the opportunity to keep chatting.
鈥淚 would love this weekend have a short discussion with Qatar and you on the situation in Gaza,鈥 he said.
French media said Macron was able to continue his walk a few minutes later when the street reopened.
France recognized Palestinian statehood on Monday at the start of a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at to the Mideast conflict.
