‘You gave it, we keep it!’: White House rejects call to return Statue of Liberty to France

A French politician has called for the return of the Statue of Liberty, arguing that the US no longer represents the ideals it was meant to symbolise. Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, criticised the US over its handling of global issues, particularly its approach to Ukraine.

Speaking to supporters, Glucksmann said, "Give us back the Statue of Liberty. We’re going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: ‘Give us back the Statue of Liberty.’ We gave it to you as a gift."

The crowd responded with applause and whistles as he continued, "The second thing we’re going to say to the Americans is: ‘If you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and their sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world’s leading power, then we’re going to welcome them.'"

White House Fires Back

The White House swiftly dismissed Glucksmann’s remarks. When asked about them during a press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, "Absolutely not."

She went further, criticising the French politician. "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."

Leavitt's remarks echoed a sentiment often used to highlight the US military’s role in liberating France during World War II.

A Symbol of US-France Relations

The Statue of Liberty, which stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbour, was a gift from France in 1886 to mark the enduring friendship between the two nations. The colossal statue, standing 305 feet tall and weighing around 450,000 pounds, depicts a woman holding a torch and a tablet inscribed with the date of the US Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776.

Despite being an enduring symbol of freedom, the statue has now become the centre of a diplomatic spat. Glucksmann’s comments reflect broader frustrations in parts of Europe over America's shifting global stance, particularly under President Trump’s leadership.

Political and Public Reactions

Glucksmann’s remarks have divided opinions, with some seeing them as a symbolic protest against US policies, while others dismiss them as political theatrics. In the US, conservative circles have ridiculed the demand, while in France, the comments have found support among left-wing groups critical of Washington's approach to global affairs.

For now, the Statue of Liberty remains firmly in place, and the White House has made it clear that there is no intention of sending it back to France.