French politician jokes US should return Statue of Liberty for siding with tyrants
Guardian2 days ago
White House Responds After French Politician Calls for Return of Statue of Liberty
Above: The Statue of Liberty in New York City, pictured in 2023. Image copyright: Roy Rochlin/Contributor/Getty Images North America via Getty Images
The Facts
The White House on Monday rejected a call from a French politician to return the Statue of Liberty — a 19th-century gift from France to America meant to represent the ties and friendship between the two countries.
Speaking at a convention of his Place Publique centre-left movement on Sunday, Raphaël Glucksmann said: "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.'"
"We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home," the French Member of European Parliament added.
The Spin
Left narrative
While these comments from a French politician were more in jest than an earnest call for a return of the statue, the remarks do represent a genuine concern in Europe about Trump's closeness to Russia, his cutting off of funding to scientific research, and other illiberal moves such as the mass deportation of immigrants.
Right narrative
This was a brutal retort from the White House press secretary and reminded this low-ranking politician of his place in the pecking order of global politics. There's no need to give any more credence to such an absurd statement.