French Politician Demands the Return of the Statue of Liberty

By Staff, Agencies

A French politician is calling for the United States to return the Statue of Liberty, arguing that America has abandoned the principles it once stood for under President Donald Trump’s leadership, particularly in its stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament, made the remarks during a convention of the Place Publique center-left movement on Sunday.

"Give us back the Statue of Liberty," Glucksmann said, as reported by Agence France-Presse. "We will tell the Americans who have chosen to align with tyrants and those who dismissed researchers for advocating scientific freedom: 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty.'"

France originally gifted the statue, standing 305 feet tall and weighing 450,000 lbs, to the US on July 4, 1884, marking the 108^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the statue now stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A smaller replica exists in the Seine River in Paris.

Historically, the US benefited from France’s financial and military support during the American Revolution. However, when the French Revolution began in 1789, the US did not return the favor.

Glucksmann, who is part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, is an outspoken supporter of Ukraine.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has clashed with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, including an Oval Office meeting where Trump berated him and suggested Ukraine was responsible for the war. Zelensky was ultimately asked to leave the White House following the meeting.

"We gave it to you as a gift," Glucksmann continued, referencing America’s founding ideals of freedom and democracy. "But apparently, you despise them. So the statue would be better off here in France."

When asked about the demand during a White House briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected the idea. "Absolutely not," she said regarding the statue’s return.

"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 aren’t speaking German right now. So they should be very grateful," Leavitt added, referencing US military intervention in World War II following Nazi Germany’s occupation of France.

Glucksmann concluded his remarks by inviting top researchers who lost their positions due to funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health and similar US institutions to relocate to France.

"The second message we have for Americans is this: If you want to fire your brightest researchers—those whose commitment to freedom, innovation and critical thinking helped make your country a global power—then we will gladly welcome them in France."