South Korea’s Lee among world leaders stopped in New York as Trump’s motorcade takes priority
During the chaos of the UN summit, France’s Macron and Turkey’s Erdogan were also delayed by traffic as Trump’s motorcade took priority
The presidents of Turkey and South Korea have become the latest leaders attending the UN’s signature diplomatic gathering to be forced to wait on the streets of New York City to let Donald Trump’s motorcade pass.
Videos shared on social media showed Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s delegation attempting to move past barricades before officers blocked them from crossing a street on Tuesday, leaving the Turkish president irked.
Erdogan was in the US city to take part in the annual United Nations General Assembly, which for New Yorkers is synonymous with traffic jams as several streets around the world body’s headquarters on the East River are closed off.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung was also stopped separately by police while leaving the UN headquarters in Manhattan, according to footage circulating on social media.
Representatives from his entourage tried to negotiate with officers, but to no avail, prompting Lee and his team to wait on the pavement until US President Trump’s convoy swept through the city.
The incidents came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron experienced a similar situation when an officer stopped him crossing the street due to Trump’s escort.
World leaders stuck on pavement by Trump motorcade
But unlike his Turkish and South Korean counterparts who appeared visibly annoyed, Macron phoned Trump and said: “Guess what? I’m waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you!”