President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participates in a meeting with the leader of Russia Vladimir Putin as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025. REUTERS/Sputnik/Vladimir Smirnov/Pool
As reported by Deutsche Welle’s Turkish service
On Wednesday, September 23, in New York, police stopped Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and forced him to wait until the motorcade of the U.S. President Donald Trump passed. Erdogan, along with his security detail, tried to cross the street but was halted due to the approaching Trump motorcade.
There was a brief clash between the Turkish president’s guards and the American police as they attempted to remove the barrier.
It is also worth noting that on Monday, September 22, after an official address at the UN headquarters, where Macron announced France’s recognition of Palestine, he was blocked on the street due to the passage of Donald Trump’s presidential motorcade.
“Sorry, Mr. President, everything is currently blocked”
The police clarified that the movement was suspended for safety reasons, and after several minutes the restriction was lifted – but only for pedestrians.
Chronology of events and responses
This development sparked discussion among the participants of the meeting, and Macron and Trump continued their conversation right on the street, trying to reach the French embassy.
“Guess what, I’m waiting out on the street right now, because everything’s blocked for you”
The incident highlights the tension in world politics amid numerous official trips and security routes that require clear coordination between the leaders’ private security details and local law enforcement.
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