Statue of Liberty has long stood as a symbol of freedom and democracy, but now, an unexpected demand from France has ignited a fiery political clash. French politician Raphaël Glucksmann recently called on the United States to return Lady Liberty, claiming that America has turned its back on the values she represents. The Trump administration, however, wasted no time in delivering a scathing response.
Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament, made headlines when he declared, “Give us back the Statue of Liberty,” insisting that the U.S. no longer deserves the monument. He accused the Trump administration of aligning with “tyrants” and silencing scientific voices, stating that the statue would be “just fine here at home” in France. His remarks, reported by France 24, quickly sparked a political firestorm.
The Statue of Liberty, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and gifted to the U.S. after the Civil War, has stood proudly on Liberty Island in New York for over a century. Despite its deep historical ties to France, the Trump administration made it clear that the statue is staying put.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a blunt and unforgiving response to Glucksmann’s demand. “Absolutely not,” she declared during a press briefing, dismissing his call as absurd. She went on to take a jab at the French politician, referring to him as a “low-level” figure and delivering a history lesson in the process.
“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,” Leavitt stated. She also urged France to be “grateful” for the U.S., calling it a “great country.”
Glucksmann didn’t stop at his demand for Lady Liberty’s return. He also extended an invitation to the thousands of federal workers recently fired by the Trump administration, offering them positions in France. The layoffs, carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), were part of an effort to slash the federal budget and resulted in over 100,000 workers losing their jobs. Glucksmann criticized the move, calling it a betrayal of the very researchers and innovators who made America a global powerhouse.
“These are some of the best researchers in the world,” Glucksmann said, emphasizing that their contributions have been instrumental to U.S. advancement. He extended an open invitation, stating that France would gladly welcome them with open arms.
Adding fuel to the fire, a U.S. federal judge recently ruled against the Trump administration, ordering that the terminated workers be reinstated. The ruling affected employees across several departments, including Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. However, the White House is not backing down.
Leavitt fiercely opposed the judge’s order, calling it “absurd and unconstitutional.” She accused the judiciary of attempting to strip the administration of its rightful power, vowing that the Trump government would “immediately fight back.”
With tensions escalating between Washington and Paris, the Statue of Liberty remains at the center of a heated political battle. While France may demand her return, the Trump administration’s message is loud and clear: Lady Liberty is staying exactly where she is.
