France demands Statue of Liberty’s return—White House fires back: “They should be grateful”

Washington, D.C. – A diplomatic flare-up between the United States and France has ignited over an unexpected subject: the Statue of Liberty. French politician Raphaël Glucksmann recently suggested that the U.S. should return the iconic monument, arguing that America under the Trump administration no longer embodies its ideals.

“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,'” Glucksmann said at a party convention.

The response from the White House was swift and firm.

“Absolutely not. 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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday, likely referencing U.S. intervention in World War II. “They should be grateful.”

Glucksmann’s comments reflect growing frustration in France over America’s shifting policies, particularly regarding scientific research and academic freedom. Since the start of Trump’s second term, the Department of Health and Human Services has dismissed thousands of scientists and public health experts. Research grants have been slashed nationwide, prompting warnings from industry leaders that the cuts could devastate institutions that rely on federal funding.

Glucksmann proposed that if the U.S. no longer wants to invest in research, France would gladly welcome displaced American scientists. The challenge, however, is largely symbolic—France has no legal grounds to demand the return of the Statue of Liberty, which has belonged to the U.S. government since its dedication in 1886.

The timing of this controversy is also significant. French President Emmanuel Macron has been working to ease diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and its European allies, particularly in efforts to mediate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. A public spat over one of the most recognizable symbols of Franco-American friendship could complicate those efforts.

While it’s unlikely that Lady Liberty will be packing her bags for Paris anytime soon, the debate underscores a deeper conversation about what the statue represents in today’s world. For more than a century, it has stood as a beacon of freedom and democracy. But as global politics shift, so too do the perceptions of those values.

For now, the statue remains firmly planted in New York Harbor, watching over a nation still grappling with its identity on the world stage.