INSANE: French politician tells America: "Give us back the Statue of Liberty"

Yesterday (Sunday), Raphaël Glucksmann, a center-left French MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group and co-founder of the Place Publique movement, made headlines during a party convention in Paris. Addressing supporters, he declared: “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.’” He added, “We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.” The remarks were reported widely, including by Politico, Le Monde, France24, and Euronews, sparking a mix of outrage, amusement, and debate across continents.

Glucksmann’s statement wasn’t a formal policy proposal but a rhetorical flourish, delivered with a grin some described as tongue-in-cheek. Yet it landed with weight, given his prominence as a progressive voice in European politics and his vocal criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, which began in January 2025. The Statue of Liberty, gifted by France to the U.S. in 1886 to mark the centennial of American independence and symbolize Franco-American friendship, became the focal point of his critique of America’s current trajectory.

The Context: Why Glucksmann Said It

Glucksmann’s call stemmed from his disillusionment with U.S. policies under Trump’s renewed leadership. He pointed to two specific grievances:

To Glucksmann, these shifts betray the values of freedom and democracy the Statue of Liberty—originally named La Liberté éclairant le monde (Liberty Enlightening the World)—was meant to embody when France presented it nearly 140 years ago. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and with its internal structure crafted by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was unveiled in New York Harbor on October 28, 1886, after being formally gifted on July 4, 1884. It stood as a beacon of shared ideals—liberty, progress, and the abolition of slavery—forged during the American Revolution and reinforced by France’s own revolutionary legacy.

Who Is Raphaël Glucksmann?

Born in 1979, Glucksmann is a philosopher-turned-politician with a pedigree steeped in intellectual and activist roots. His father, André Glucksmann, was a prominent French philosopher and critic of totalitarianism. Raphaël co-founded Place Publique in 2018, a left-wing movement allied with the Socialist Party, advocating for climate action, social justice, and European integration. Elected to the European Parliament in 2019, he’s earned a reputation as a fierce defender of Ukraine and a critic of both far-right populism in Europe and Trump’s influence globally. His March 16 speech also took aim at France’s own far-right, accusing them of being a “fan club” for Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, now a key figure in Trump’s administration leading the Department of Government Efficiency.

The Reaction: Outrage, Satire, and Silence

Glucksmann’s remarks ignited a firestorm. In the U.S., conservative outlets like Fox News framed it as an absurd overreach—“French Parliament member wants US to return Statue of Liberty: ‘Apparently you despise it’”—while Trump supporters on X mocked the idea, with one user quipping, “Subby suggests we give it back before Cheetolini sells it to Putin.” European media varied: Politico mused on the Hollywood-esque improbability (“Lady Liberty surely couldn’t be sent back to France. Could she?”), while Le Monde tied it to Glucksmann’s broader critique of Trump’s Ukraine policy shift.

Historical Echoes: The Statue’s Origins

The Statue of Liberty’s backstory adds irony to Glucksmann’s demand. Conceived in 1865 by French abolitionist Édouard de Laboulaye to celebrate U.S. independence and the end of slavery, it was a joint effort—France funded the statue, America the pedestal. Assembled in Paris in 1884, it dazzled crowds before crossing the Atlantic. A smaller replica, gifted back to France by the U.S. in 1889, still stands on Paris’ Île aux Cygnes. Glucksmann’s call thus toys with a potent symbol of Franco-American unity now strained by divergent paths.

What It Means: Symbolism vs. Reality

Glucksmann’s rhetoric is less about reclaiming copper and iron than reclaiming a narrative. The Statue, he implies, belongs with those who still champion its ideals—France, in his view, over a Trump-led America. It’s a jab at U.S. moral decline, but also a rallying cry for his base: progressive, pro-Europe, anti-Trump. Critics call it grandstanding—France has its own far-right woes, and taking back a gift after 139 years smacks of petulance. Supporters see it as a wake-up call to a world watching America pivot from its postwar role.

Legally, it’s a nonstarter; the U.S. owns the statue outright. Practically, it’s absurd—dismantling and shipping it would cost billions. But as a provocation, it’s hit its mark, forcing a reckoning with what liberty means in 2025, nearly 140 years after France’s gift changed New York’s skyline—and the world’s imagination—forever.

Belaaz contributed to this article.