French Politician Calls for Return of Statue of Liberty
In a move that could be described as both dramatic and a touch theatrical, Raphaël Glucksmann, a French leftist politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP), has boldly declared that the United States should return the iconic Statue of Liberty. His reasoning? According to Glucksmann, America has strayed so far from the foundational values for which the statue was gifted in 1886 that it might as well come back to France.
At a recent gathering of his Place Publique movement, Glucksmann unleashed a barrage of criticisms aimed at various aspects of U.S. governance, particularly targeting the foreign policy of former President Donald Trump, the treatment of scientific researchers, and fiscal choices that he perceives as misguided.
“To the Americans who have allied themselves with tyrants and dismissed researchers standing up for scientific freedom, we say: ‘Return the Statue of Liberty. We bestowed it upon you as a gift, but it seems you no longer value its symbolism. It would be better served back home,’” Glucksmann vociferously told his supporters.
He didn’t stop there, further asserting, “If you choose to dismiss your brightest minds—the very individuals whose creativity and critical thought helped establish your status as a global leader—then we in France would happily welcome them with open arms.”
Glucksmann also took a swipe at right-leaning French politicians who show admiration for Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk, deriding them as part of a rather peculiar “fan club.”
His remarks come amidst ongoing discussions about the implications of scientific freedom and innovation, highlighting France’s readiness to embrace American researchers who feel stifled by current U.S. policies.
The Statue of Liberty, crafted by the talented French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, was a gift from France to the United States, symbolizing the enduring friendship between the two nations and commemorating the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence.
WATCH:
FRENCH MEP: GIVE US BACK THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
The US no longer represents the values for which France gave the statue to the US, said Raphaël Glucksmann, a French member of the European Parliament. pic.twitter.com/T9Nu8yIsq6
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 16, 2025
