The White House has shut down a French politician’s call to return the Statue of Liberty.
On Sunday, (March 16), a French Member of the European Parliament argued that America no longer represents the values that Lady Liberty was meant to symbolize.
During a speech, Glucksmann declared: “Give us back the Statue of Liberty...It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her. So she will be happy here with us,” the Associated Press reported.
The White House responded to his calls on Monday (March 17) by making it crystal clear that the Statue of Liberty is staying put.
“Absolutely not,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, before blasting: “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.”
Though Leavitt didn’t elaborate, her pointed response seemed to allude to the longstanding alliance between France and the US, particularly during World War II.
“They should be grateful,” she concluded.
France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the U.S. in 1886 as a symbol of democracy and friendship, and it has stood in New York Harbor ever since.
According to the statue’s official website, Lady Liberty represents “freedom, inspiration, and hope".
“Her crown representing light with its spikes evoking sun rays extending out to the world; the tablet, inscribed with July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals, noting American independence; to symbolize the end of slavery, Bartholdi placed a broken shackle and chains at the Statue’s foot,” the website adds.
Despite Glucksmann’s demand, the statue is firmly in American hands - literally. Politico notes that the monument is US government property, meaning there’s no legal pathway for France to reclaim it.
Beyond that, the French lawmaker’s remarks could add unnecessary strain to diplomatic relations, particularly between President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The two leaders last met in the Oval Office on February 24, where they discussed financial aid for Ukraine and Russia’s ongoing war.
Macron, 47, emphasized the need for Ukraine to receive compensation, saying: “They are the ones who have [lost] a lot of their fellow citizen[s], and they're being destroyed by these attacks.”
Trump, 78, pushed back. “Just so you understand, Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They get their money back,” he said, later adding: “If you believe that, it’s okay with me.”
Despite their disagreements, Macron later said: “We want peace. And I think the initiative of President Trump is a very positive one," per PEOPLE.