A French Member of the European Parliament, Raphaël Glucksmann, humorously suggested that the United States should return the Statue of Liberty, which France gifted to the U.S. 140 years ago. His comment came in response to former President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, accusing Trump of “siding with tyrants” against Ukraine.
In response, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary during Trump’s administration, dismissed Glucksmann as an “unnamed low-level French politician” and firmly stated that the U.S. would not return the statue. Leavitt also taunted France’s occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II, claiming, “It’s only because of America that the French are not speaking German right now.” She further emphasized that France should be grateful to the U.S.
Glucksmann, a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, sparked the exchange on Sunday by sarcastically claiming that the U.S. appeared to no longer value the Statue of Liberty or what it stands for. He humorously added that it would be better suited to remain in France.
The comments were made in the context of a broader political discourse on the U.S. position on Ukraine, particularly after Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine. This action raised concerns in Europe that the former president may favor Russia in the ongoing war. Trump’s public confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February 2023 further fueled such fears, although the U.S. later resumed its aid to Ukraine.
Additionally, Glucksmann referenced Elon Musk’s drastic cuts to federal government positions, which affected numerous researchers in the U.S. He suggested that France could benefit if some of these individuals chose to emigrate. Glucksmann argued that if the U.S. was going to fire talented researchers who contributed to its global dominance, France would welcome them.
Glucksmann continued with his mock suggestion that the U.S. should return the Statue of Liberty. He framed it as a protest against Trump’s actions, claiming that the statue, which France had given as a gift, should be returned in light of the U.S. siding with “tyrants” and curtailing scientific freedom.
The Statue of Liberty, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, was presented by France to the U.S. on July 4, 1884, in celebration of the U.S. gaining independence from Britain. The statue, standing 305 feet tall, was installed in New York Harbor and dedicated in 1886. A smaller replica also stands in Paris.
The statue’s pedestal bears the famous poem “The New Colossus,” which invites immigrants to the U.S., stating, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
In contrast, Trump has focused on strict immigration policies, including recent deportations of immigrants, such as a Brown University professor with a valid work visa, and over 250 individuals accused of gang affiliations.
Glucksmann’s comments have sparked a broader debate on U.S. foreign policy, scientific freedom, and immigration, highlighting tensions between France and the U.S. over these issues.
