WATCH: Karoline Leavitt Decimates French Politician For Asking For The Statue Of Liberty Back
A French politician is calling for the return of the Statue of Liberty, claiming the United States no longer represents the values it was meant to embody. But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back in her response, delivering a scathing reality check that quickly went viral.
During a press briefing, Fox News’ Peter Doocy pressed Leavitt on whether President Trump had any intention of complying with the request.
“Is President Trump going to send the Statue of Liberty back to France?” Doocy asked.
“Absolutely not. And 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,” Leavitt fired back. “So they should be very grateful to our great country.”
WATCH:
The controversy stems from remarks made by French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, a left-wing politician from the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament. During a party event on Sunday, Glucksmann suggested that the U.S. should return the Statue of Liberty, which France gifted in 1886, citing the Trump administration’s policies.
“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,’” Glucksmann said according to France24.
“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home,” Glucksmann continued.
His comments seemed to be a reaction to U.S. foreign policy decisions, including perceived coziness with autocratic leaders and actions that he believes contradict the principles of liberty and democracy. The French MEP’s remarks likely stem from Washington’s recent decision to halt aid to Ukraine.
While Glucksmann’s remarks may have been intended as a political stunt, they were met with widespread mockery, especially after Leavitt’s response. The Statue of Liberty was a symbol of France’s admiration for American liberty, but it was the U.S. that saved France from Nazi occupation during World War II.
Liberty Enlightening the World New York City
The Statue of Liberty, officially known as Liberty Enlightening the World, was a gift from France to the United States in 1886 to celebrate American independence and symbolize the friendship between the two nations. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with its metal framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel, the statue was built in France and shipped to the U.S. in 350 pieces inside 214 crates.
It was assembled on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island), where a pedestal designed by Richard Morris Hunt was constructed with funds raised by American donations. Dedicated on October 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland, the statue quickly became a powerful symbol of freedom and democracy.
The seven spikes on its crown represent the seven continents and seas, while the torch signifies enlightenment. The tablet in Lady Liberty’s left hand bears the date July 4, 1776, marking the Declaration of Independence, and broken chains at her feet symbolize the abolition of oppression.
In 1903, Emma Lazarus’ famous poem “The New Colossus” was inscribed on the pedestal, welcoming immigrants with the iconic lines: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Over the years, the statue has served as a beacon of hope for millions of immigrants arriving at nearby Ellis Island.
Declared a National Monument in 1924, it underwent a major restoration in 1986 for its centennial, with its torch replaced and coated in gold. Today, the Statue of Liberty remains one of the most recognized symbols of freedom worldwide, attracting millions of visitors each year.
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