French MEP Calls for Statue of Liberty’s Return Amid U.S. Foreign Policy Concerns
French Member of the European Parliament Raphaël Glucksmann has stirred controversy by suggesting that the Statue of Liberty should be returned to France, arguing that the United States has aligned itself with oppressive regimes.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home,” Glucksmann remarked, as reported by local media.
His comments appear to be a reaction to Washington’s recent decision to temporarily halt military aid to Ukraine, disrupting its efforts to repel the ongoing Russian invasion. Although U.S. assistance has since resumed, concerns persist in Europe regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to international relations. His perceived leniency toward Russia, long-standing admiration for authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin, and public rebuke of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy have raised alarm among European allies.
On a more strategic note, Glucksmann suggested that France could take advantage of job losses in the United States associated with the new Trump administration. He extended a welcoming message to American professionals affected by political shifts, emphasizing that France would gladly accept skilled researchers and innovators dismissed from their positions.
“If you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world’s leading power, then we’re going to welcome them,” Glucksmann declared.
The base of the Statue of Liberty famously features a plaque with the inscription: “Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” However, the Trump administration has pushed for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and has proposed new travel restrictions affecting multiple countries, further fueling the debate over America’s stance on freedom and human rights.
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