After 139 years, could Lady Liberty return ‘home’ to France?
The White House secretary has replied to the French politician who demanded the Statue of Liberty be returned ‘home’.
French Politician Calls for Statue of Liberty’s Return to Europe, Claiming U.S. No Longer Deserves It
After nearly 140 years standing as an iconic symbol over New York City, French politician Raphaël Glucksmann has sparked controversy by calling for Lady Liberty to be shipped back to Europe—arguing that the United States no longer upholds the values she represents.
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, was first proposed in 1865 by French political thinker and anti-slavery advocate Edouard de Laboulaye to commemorate both the centennial of U.S. independence and the historic friendship between the two nations. Designed by renowned sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the monument was delivered to American shores on June 17, 1885, and officially installed on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island) in 1886, where it has stood as a global beacon of freedom ever since.
Glucksmann’s bold statement has ignited debate: Does Lady Liberty still belong in America, or has the nation strayed too far from her ideals?
White House Shuts Down French Politician’s Call to Reclaim Lady Liberty
Could Raphaël Glucksmann’s controversial demand lead to Lady Liberty returning to her “sister” statue in Paris? Not if the White House has anything to say about it.
Firing back at Glucksmann’s proposal, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made it clear on March 17 that President Donald Trump would ‘absolutely not’ be returning the Statue of Liberty to France.
In a pointed response, Leavitt 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.”
With those fiery words, the debate over Lady Liberty’s future just took a decisive turn.
French Politician Demands Return of Lady Liberty Amid Rising Global Tensions
The Statue of Liberty, an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, has found itself at the center of a fiery debate after French politician Raphaël Glucksmann called for its return to France.
Speaking at a Place Publique convention on March 16, Glucksmann declared:
“Give us back the Statue of Liberty.
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.”
His remarks sparked a sharp response from the White House, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the idea outright.
She reminded Glucksmann of the U.S.’s crucial role in liberating France during World War II, stating:
“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.”
A World on Edge
Glucksmann’s comments come at a time of heightened international tensions. At the end of February, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a heated exchange over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, Trump has engaged directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to de-escalate the crisis, claiming that without his intervention, the situation could have led to World War III.
As diplomatic battles rage on, one thing is certain—Lady Liberty isn’t going anywhere.
