The Trump administration has flatly refused a French politician’s audacious request to send the Statue of Liberty back to France, dismissing the idea with a sharp rebuke.
“Absolutely not,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared during a Monday briefing. She didn’t mince words, reminding the unnamed French official that “it’s only because of the United States of America that the French aren’t speaking German right now.” A not-so-subtle nod to America’s role in liberating France during World War II. “They should be grateful,” she added.
The controversy erupted after Raphaël Glucksmann, a French member of the European Parliament, claimed the Trump administration no longer embodied the values the iconic statue represents. Speaking at a party convention, he argued that America had abandoned its commitment to freedom, citing recent government actions that purged scientists and slashed research funding.
“If the U.S. chooses to side with tyrants and silence scientific freedom, then give us back the Statue of Liberty,” Glucksmann proclaimed, adding that France would be more than happy to welcome America’s displaced research sector.
The Trump administration has significantly cut public health positions and research grants, a move that industry leaders warn could cripple scientific institutions dependent on federal funding.
But here’s the kicker—France has no legal grounds to reclaim the statue. It’s U.S. government property, and any attempt to strong-arm its return would do little more than strain diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is busy trying to mend fences with Trump as he attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
For now, Lady Liberty isn’t going anywhere—except maybe deeper into the heart of a transatlantic political feud.
