The Statue of Liberty has been standing tall in New York for more than a century, but now, a French politician is saying, “Hey, we want it back.”
Even though most people see it as a symbol of America, the statue actually came from France. And it’s not one of a kind — there’s another one sitting in Paris right now.
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The statue was first proposed to celebrate US independence and friendship with France
Back in 1865, a French political thinker and anti-slavery activist, Edouard de Laboulaye, had an idea — France should gift the U.S. a statue to celebrate its 100th year of independence and the strong bond between the two nations.
French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi took on the project, and by June 17, 1885, the statue arrived in the US. A year later, it was officially installed on Bedloe’s Island, where it’s stood ever since… or at least, that’s how it’s been up until now.
A French politician is demanding the statue’s return
With tensions rising between the US and Europe, Raphaël Glucksmann, a centre-left politician in France, made a bold statement — he thinks the US should “give [France] back the Statue of Liberty.”
“We gave it to you as a gift,” Glucksmann said, citing the United States’ founding values of freedom and liberty. “But apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.”
Glucksmann criticizes America’s political decisions
At a convention for his Place Publique movement, Glucksmann doubled down on his stance.
“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’,” he said.
Trade tensions between the US and Europe fuel the debate
Glucksmann’s remarks came after President Donald Trump put a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports to the US. In response, the European Commission hit back with its own tariffs on American goods.
Trump wasn’t done, though. He later threatened to slap a 200 percent tariff on all wines, champagne, and alcoholic products coming in from France and other European nations.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict is also part of the controversy
On top of the trade dispute, Glucksmann also took issue with Trump’s handling of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. He was particularly critical of the US decision to cut military aid to Ukraine and reduce funding for research institutions.
Glucksmann invites dismissed American researchers to France
Glucksmann made it clear that France wasn’t just interested in reclaiming the Statue of Liberty — it was also open to welcoming the American researchers who had lost 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’,” he said.
The White House fires back
The US wasn’t having it. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shut down Glucksmann’s request immediately, saying the US would “absolutely not” return the statue.
She didn’t stop there. “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 was referring to the US’ involvement in World War II, when American forces played a major role in liberating France from Nazi Germany.
Is Lady Liberty going anywhere?
Despite Glucksmann’s demand, it’s clear the Statue of Liberty isn’t leaving New York anytime soon. The Trump administration has dismissed the idea entirely, while continuing to focus on ongoing international issues, including trade disputes and tensions in Ukraine.
For now, Lady Liberty remains where she’s been for nearly 140 years — watching over New York Harbor, with no plans to pack her bags for Paris.
