French politician Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament, said in a speech that the United States should give the Statue of Liberty back to France, in protest of Trump administration policies. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the idea, saying “Absolutely not.”
A French politician made headlines on Sunday by suggesting that the United States should return the Statue of Liberty to France, in criticism of policies under President Donald Trump.
“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,'” said Raphaël Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament, during a speech in France.
A symbol of freedom
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the United States that was dedicated in 1886, has long stood as a symbol of democracy and freedom. Glucksmann argued that the current U.S. administration’s actions no longer reflect those values.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home,” he added during a convention of his Place Publique political movement, according to French media reports.
White House rejects the idea
Asked at a press briefing on Monday whether the U.S. would consider returning the statue, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected it.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “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.”
Offer to welcome fired American researchers
Glucksmann also referred to the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce and research funding, saying France should welcome American researchers who lose their jobs.
“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,'” Glucksmann said.
Federal job cuts
The Trump administration has fired or pushed out tens of thousands of federal workers as part of its effort to shrink the government, and several agencies have had funding cut.
The administration has presented the cuts as cost-saving measures, while critics in the U.S. and abroad have raised concerns about their effect on research and public services.
Court orders reinstatement
On Thursday, two federal judges, in separate cases in California and Maryland, ordered the administration to reinstate tens of thousands of probationary workers who had been fired. The administration said it would challenge the rulings.
Trade and foreign policy tensions
The comments came amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Europe over trade and foreign policy.
Last week, the European Union announced counter-tariffs on about $28 billion worth of U.S. goods in response to Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum, raising concerns about a wider trade dispute.
Ukraine policy
A tense Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February also raised questions among European leaders about future U.S. support for Ukraine. Several EU leaders have since restated their commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
Reactions on both sides
Supporters of Trump’s approach say he is putting American interests first, while critics argue his policies are straining relations with allies. Glucksmann’s remark reflected some of that criticism in Europe.
What’s next
The statue is not going anywhere. The exchange, however, highlighted the strains in relations between Washington and some European politicians.
Source: The Irish Times
