Statue of Liberty: French MEP calls for return
Could the Statue of Liberty make a surprise return to France? That’s the suggestion from French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, who jokingly proposed that the iconic monument should be reclaimed, given what he sees as the United States’ shift away from the values it represents.
Speaking at a political convention, Glucksmann, from the Socialists and Democrats group, took a playful jab at the US, saying, “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.’” Smiling as he spoke, he added, “We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.”
His comments likely refer to the US’s recent wavering support for Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russia. While aid has now resumed, concerns remain across Europe about former President Donald Trump’s past admiration for strongman leaders like Vladimir Putin. Many in France and beyond have been watching closely, particularly after Trump publicly undermined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and suggested NATO allies couldn’t always count on American support.
Beyond his joke about reclaiming the statue, Glucksmann had a more serious point to make. He suggested that if the US continues down this path—particularly by limiting scientific freedoms and pushing out researchers—France should welcome American talent with open arms. “If you want to fire your best researchers… then we’re going to welcome them,” he said, positioning France as a potential new home for those disillusioned by political shifts in the US.
The Statue of Liberty, gifted by France in 1886, has long stood as a symbol of freedom and democracy. But with the US now considering stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations, Glucksmann’s remarks tap into a wider debate. Is America still living up to the ideals the statue represents? Or, as the MEP suggests, has the time come to bring Lady Liberty back home?
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