The White House has fired back at a French politician who called for the Statue of Liberty to be returned to France, claiming the U.S. no longer upholds the values it represents.
After nearly 140 years standing over New York Harbor, Raphaël Glucksmann, a centre-left French politician, has suggested that Lady Liberty be sent back to Europe, arguing that the U.S. does not appreciate its significance.
The Statue’s Origins
The idea for the Statue of Liberty was first proposed in 1865 by Édouard de Laboulaye, a French political thinker and anti-slavery activist. It was intended to commemorate the centennial of American independence and symbolize the strong bond between France and the U.S.
French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the monument, which was officially delivered to the U.S. on June 17, 1885, before being erected on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island) in 1886, where it remains today.
But could Glucksmann’s demand see the statue reunited with its smaller twin in Paris?
White House Hits Back
Responding to Glucksmann’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the idea outright, stating that President Donald Trump would “absolutely not” be returning Lady Liberty.
Taking a sharper tone, she added: “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.”
Leavitt’s comment was a direct reference to the U.S.’s role in World War II, when American forces joined the Allies in 1941 to fight Nazi Germany—two years after the war had begun. France had surrendered to the Nazis in 1940.
What Did Glucksmann Actually Say?
Speaking at a convention for his Place Publique movement on Sunday (March 16), Glucksmann declared (via CNN): “Give us back the Statue of Liberty.”
He added: “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, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home’.”
Political Context
The debate over Lady Liberty’s fate comes as tensions rise between the Trump administration and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the end of last month, Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a heated exchange with Zelenskyy, as Trump continues to push for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 78-year-old Republican has also spoken directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming his intervention has prevented a World War III scenario from unfolding in Eastern Europe.
While the Statue of Liberty remains firmly in New York, Glucksmann’s comments have reignited a debate about the U.S.’s global standing—and whether it still upholds the ideals the statue was meant to represent.
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