.png)
After almost 140 years overlooking New York City, centre-left politician Raphael Glucksmann has called for Lady Liberty to be shipped back to Europe, claiming the US doesn’t appreciate the values that she stands for.
The statue was first proposed all the way back in 1865, when a French political intellectual and anti-slavery activist named Edouard de Laboulaye suggested it be created to mark the centennial of independence in the United States, as well as the country’s friendship with France.
The statue was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, before being delivered to the US on June 17, 1885. It was finally erected on Bedloe’s Island in 1886, where it has remained ever since.
French politician Raphael Glucksmann has asked for the Statue of Liberty back (Laurent Coust/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
But could Glucksmann’s request see Lady Liberty returned to her sister statue in Paris?
Well, biting back at Glucksmann, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday (March 17) that Trump would ‘absolutely not’ be giving Lady Liberty back to the French.
Adding: “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.
“So they should be very grateful to our great country.”
Lady Liberty overlooks New York City (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
She was referring to the US’ involvement in World War II, having joined the Allies in the war against Adolf Hitler’s fascist Nazi movement in 1941 – two years on into the fighting.
France surrendered to Nazi Germany the year before.
So what did Glucksmann actually say?
While speaking at a convention of his Place Publique centre-left movement, he said on Sunday (March 16): “Give us back the Statue of Liberty.
“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’.”
It comes as President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance had a fiery meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the end of last month, as the Trump administration continues to call for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 78-year-old Republican has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he attempts to de-escalate tensions in Eastern Europe, which he believes have led to World War III if he hadn’t have gotten involved.
