US Retaliates Against Statue of Liberty Return Demand: "France Would Have Spoken German Without Us"

Response to Glucksmann's 'Return the Statue of Liberty' Demand
"Not Speaking German Is Thanks to the U.S."
"Advice for an Unnamed Politician"

A French politician has demanded the return of the 'Statue of Liberty,' which France gifted to the United States 140 years ago, while the U.S. responded by saying, "France should be grateful that it does not speak German."

On the 17th (local time), White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mentioned European Parliament member Rapha?l Glucksmann, who demanded the return of the Statue of Liberty, during a regular briefing. She retorted, "The reason the French do not use German (as an official language) now is thanks to the United States. They should be grateful to this great country," adding, "This is advice I give to an unnamed French politician."

The Statue of Liberty located on Liberty Island in New York, USA. Pixabay

Earlier, on the previous day, Glucksmann criticized U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters during a public speech in Paris. He said, "To the Americans who have sided with the tyrant, to those who fired scientists for demanding academic freedom, I say this: give us back the Statue of Liberty." He sarcastically added, "We gave you the Statue of Liberty, but you Americans disdain it," and "It would be great if the Statue of Liberty were in France." Glucksmann is known to be affiliated with the French center-left party 'Place Publique.'

The remarks demanding the return of the Statue of Liberty come amid the U.S. administration's abolition of the 'DEI' (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policy. The Trump administration has undertaken large-scale workforce reductions and budget cuts in sectors such as science and foreign aid, and has been criticized for undermining the value of free trade through high-intensity tariff policies. In response, Glucksmann declared, "If you are going to fire and expel the people who made your country a superpower through innovation, freedom, and the spirit of inquiry, then we will welcome them."

Meanwhile, the Statue of Liberty is a colossal sculpture on Liberty Island in New York, designed by French sculptor Fr?d?ric Auguste Bartholdi and constructed with the participation of architect Gustave Eiffel, famous for the Eiffel Tower. It was a gift from France, which fought alongside the United States against Britain during the American Revolutionary War, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence in 1876. Since its completion in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has served as a landmark symbolizing the 'American Dream' and freedom for 140 years.