The United States has firmly rejected a suggestion by French politician Raphaël Glucksmann that the Statue of Liberty should be returned to France, dismissing his remarks as unwarranted and politically motivated.
Glucksmann, a centre-left politician, recently stated that France should take back the iconic statue, arguing that the US no longer upholds the values that inspired France to gift the monument. The statue was a gift from France nearly 140 years ago. His remarks were seen as a direct criticism of US President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly regarding scientific freedom and international relations.
“Give us back the Statue of Liberty… We’re going to tell the Americans, who have chosen to side with the tyrants and fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom — ‘Give us back the Statue of Liberty,'” Glucksmann said.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently, you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.”
The statement sparked a sharp response from the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the demand outright, ridiculing Glucksmann’s political stature.
Taking a dig at France, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that France would be “speaking German” without US help in World War II.
She said, “Absolutely not. And my advice to that unnamed low-level French politician would be to remind them that it’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now. So they should be very grateful to our great country.”
Raphaël Glucksmann is a member of the European Parliament and co-president of a left-wing party in France. Knowing his stature, one can understand and say he can’t claim to speak for all of his companions. However, his assertion that some Americans “have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants” reflects the broad shockwaves that US President Donald Trump’s shifts in foreign and domestic policy are triggering in France as well as Europe.
A vocal critic of Trump, Glucksmann has strongly opposed the US President’s shift in foreign policy, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine.
He has also condemned far-right leaders in France, accusing them of being “a fan club” for Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
History of The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was presented in New York Harbor on October 28, 1886, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. Created by French artist Auguste Bartholdi, it was a present from the people of France to the United States, representing the common values of freedom and democracy.
While Paris does have a smaller replica of the statue on an island in the Seine, Glucksmann’s remarks were largely seen as a symbolic political statement rather than a genuine demand for its return.
The Statue of Liberty is a UNESCO heritage treasure registered in the US government’s name. Transported in 350 pieces from France, the statue was officially unveiled on October 28, 1886. Though the statue was funded and transported by France, It is officially with the US, and any practical looks unrealistic.