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Raphaël Glucksmann's proposal reignites debate on US influence on the global stage and divides opinions among French and American politicians
French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, leader of the Place Publique party, has suggested that the United States return the Statue of Liberty to France, arguing that the country no longer represents the values that inspired the donation of the monument in 1886. During a convention of his party, Glucksmann criticized the foreign and domestic policies of the US government, citing the war in Ukraine, cuts in scientific funding and the current political polarization in the US as examples of a move away from the ideals of freedom and democracy that the statue symbolizes. The statement generated great international repercussion and reignited debates about the role of the monument in global politics, as well as highlighting the tensions between different political spectrums in Europe and the United States.
The proposal, which began as a symbolic critique, quickly gained international repercussion. According to The Guardian, Glucksmann argued that the United States “disdains the fundamental principles of freedom” and that, in this context, the monument would be better located on French territory. “If the values for which this statue was given are no longer respected, then perhaps we should bring it back,” the MEP said.
US and public reaction
The suggestion was not well received by the White House, which responded immediately to the statement. Government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt mocked the idea and recalled that the French “should be grateful to the United States for their liberation in World War II.” The response reinforced the position that the statue, one of the most recognized icons of the United States, definitively belongs to the country and that its return was never under consideration. The official US position was widely reported in the international media, highlighting the controversy generated by the French MEP’s statement.
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Glucksmann's proposal also generated mixed reactions in France. While left-wing politicians saw the speech as a legitimate criticism of the US government, parties more aligned with the center and right considered the suggestion exaggerated and populist. The newspaper Le Monde highlighted that the French government itself has no intention of demanding the return of the statue, treating the MEP's speech more as a provocation than a real demand. Members of the Rassemblement National, the far-right party led by Marine Le Pen, took advantage of the controversy to criticize the global influence of the United States and defend greater independence of France in international decisions.
History and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, officially called La Liberté éclairant le monde (Liberty Enlightening the World), was a gift from France to the United States to celebrate American independence and strengthen ties between the two nations. The monument was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and its internal structure was developed by renowned engineer Gustave Eiffel, the same designer of the Eiffel Tower.
The statue was unveiled on October 28, 1886, in New York Harbor, and has since become one of the greatest symbols of the United States, representing freedom, democracy and the reception of immigrants. For many experts, Glucksmann's speech seeks to rescue this symbolism and question whether the United States is still an example of these ideals in the current scenario.
