Politics Country March 19, 2025

French Legislator Responds to U.S. Rejection

After the White House refused to return the Statue of Liberty to France, French legislator Raphaël Glucksmann criticized U.S. statements, emphasizing the historical bond between the nations.


French Legislator Responds to U.S. Rejection

The White House rejected the request to return the Statue of Liberty to France. French lawmaker Raphaël Glucksmann, who initially made this request, responded to statements from U.S. government spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. Glucksmann expressed in a thread on social media that the relationship between France and the United States is closely tied by history and the passion for freedom, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty donated by France to the U.S. in honor of its revolution.

Glucksmann also mentioned the role of the United States in World War II and how the alliance between both nations was crucial at that time. For her part, Leavitt mentioned that the French are not speaking German today thanks to the United States. In light of the White House's refusal to return the statue, Glucksmann stated that if the free world is not a priority for the U.S., Europe will take up the torch.

The French deputy criticized the current stance of the U.S. government and pointed out that it no longer represents the values that led France to offer the Statue of Liberty in 1884. Glucksmann emphasized that present-day America differs from the America that fought against fascism and expressed his discontent with the actions of President Donald Trump.

The statue is officially owned by the U.S. government and was a gift from France in 1884 to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. Despite the French lawmaker's request, the White House firmly reiterated that it will not return the iconic statue to France.