MEP Demands US Return Statue of Liberty to France
Raphael Glucksmann has asserted that Americans “apparently despise” the gift which symbolizes freedom. French Member of the European Parliament Raphael Glucksmann is calling on the United States to return the Statue of Liberty. He argues that...
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Raphael Glucksmann has asserted that Americans “apparently despise” the gift which symbolizes freedom.
French Member of the European Parliament Raphael Glucksmann is calling on the United States to return the Statue of Liberty. He argues that recent policy changes under President Donald Trump contradict the essential principles the monument represents.
The Statue of Liberty, a creation of French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and constructed by Gustave Eiffel, was presented to the US to celebrate the centennial of American independence. Since its unveiling in 1886, it has been a symbol of freedom and a guiding light for immigrants pursuing a better future.
Glucksmann, a center-left MEP and outspoken supporter of Ukraine, voiced his criticism of Trump’s policies, particularly the administration's attempts to mediate peace between Moscow and Kiev. Speaking at a convention of his Place Publique party, he accused Americans of “siding with tyrants.”
“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 declared to a supportive audience, as reported by Le Monde.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.”
Since assuming office in January, Trump has aggressively pursued reforms within US government agencies, aiming to cut down on wasteful spending. His administration has also enforced stricter immigration policies and halted foreign aid programs that do not align with his ‘America first’ agenda. Additionally, Trump’s executive orders have targeted federal funding for climate research and gender studies.
“The second thing we’re going to say to the Americans is: If you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom, their sense of innovation, and their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world’s leading power, then we’re going to welcome them,” Glucksmann emphasized.
The son of the late philosopher Andre Glucksmann, he participated in the Maidan coup in Kiev in 2013 and served as an adviser to former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for over five years. Furthermore, he has criticized EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron—one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies—for what he perceives as “insufficient” support for Kiev.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
French Member of the European Parliament Raphael Glucksmann is calling on the United States to return the Statue of Liberty. He argues that recent policy changes under President Donald Trump contradict the essential principles the monument represents.
The Statue of Liberty, a creation of French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and constructed by Gustave Eiffel, was presented to the US to celebrate the centennial of American independence. Since its unveiling in 1886, it has been a symbol of freedom and a guiding light for immigrants pursuing a better future.
Glucksmann, a center-left MEP and outspoken supporter of Ukraine, voiced his criticism of Trump’s policies, particularly the administration's attempts to mediate peace between Moscow and Kiev. Speaking at a convention of his Place Publique party, he accused Americans of “siding with tyrants.”
“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 declared to a supportive audience, as reported by Le Monde.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.”
Since assuming office in January, Trump has aggressively pursued reforms within US government agencies, aiming to cut down on wasteful spending. His administration has also enforced stricter immigration policies and halted foreign aid programs that do not align with his ‘America first’ agenda. Additionally, Trump’s executive orders have targeted federal funding for climate research and gender studies.
“The second thing we’re going to say to the Americans is: If you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom, their sense of innovation, and their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world’s leading power, then we’re going to welcome them,” Glucksmann emphasized.
The son of the late philosopher Andre Glucksmann, he participated in the Maidan coup in Kiev in 2013 and served as an adviser to former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for over five years. Furthermore, he has criticized EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron—one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies—for what he perceives as “insufficient” support for Kiev.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
