French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Raphaël Glucksmann called for the United States to return the Statue of Liberty to France. In a Place Publique party convention on March 16, 2025, Glucksmann argued that America has abandoned the values of liberty and democracy that led France to gift the statue in 1886.
The French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty that the United States accepted as a gift to mark the centennial of America’s independence and to symbolize the two nations’ shared principles of liberty and democracy. The statue has been a symbol of hope to millions of immigrants to the United States since its dedication in the harbor of New York in 1886.
But now Glucksmann questions if America remains a worthy custodian of this gift of history. “We gave it to you as a gift and it appears you despise it. So it will be perfectly fine here at home,” he said to an entranced audience.
Glucksmann’s words are only part of his overall criticism of the foreign and domestic policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. He accused the United States of backing authoritarian regimes, slashing research budgets that are essential to the survival of the country, and undermining support to Ukraine during its conflict with Russia.
We will say to the Americans who allied with the tyrants, to the Americans who dismissed scientists who demanded scientific liberty: ‘Return to us the Statue of Liberty,'” he said.
Glucksmann also cited the Trump administration’s cuts to the research centers at the federal government that led to the layoffs of scientists working on climate and health research. He made the open offer to the out-of-work US scientists that “If you want to fire your best researchers, then we’re going to welcome them.”
The US government immediately dismissed the request of Glucksmann. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded sternly that,
“It’s only because of the United States of America that the French aren’t currently speaking German so they should be very thankful to our wonderful country.”
Leavitt continued that the Statue of Liberty belongs to America’s heritage and will not be returned. UNESCO, which has recognized the statue as World Heritage property, also said that the statue is still owned by the United States government and will not be taken back by France.
Glucksmann’s words provoked intense debate in France and the United States. The government of French President Emmanuel Macron has not backed up Glucksmann’s call but has instead insisted on maintaining diplomatic ties with Washington. Some French activists and politicians joined him in saying so and asserted that America has lost its way in upholding democratic principles.
The response in America was divided. Some Americans thought the request to cover up the statue of Lady Liberty was absurd while others appreciated the concern of Glucksmann over the shifting political climate of the nation. Historians noted that monuments like the Statue of Liberty tend to acquire new meaning in shifting political climates as the attitude of the world towards government and democracy evolves.
