A French member of the European Parliament, Raphael Glucksmann, has sharply criticized the United States under President Donald Trump, calling for the return of the Statue of Liberty, which France gifted to America.
Speaking to supporters of his center-left Place Publique party on Sunday, Glucksmann said, “We’re going to tell the Americans who’ve sided with tyrants, and those who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: ‘Give us back the Statue of Liberty.’”
He continued, “We gave it to you as a gift, but it seems you despise it. So, it’ll be just fine here at home.” His remarks, aimed at the U.S.’s treatment of scientific freedom and the statue’s symbolism, were met with cheers from the crowd.
Glucksmann further stated that America, under Trump’s leadership, has shown contempt for the Statue of Liberty. He also directed a message to U.S.-based scientists affected by what he called Trump and Elon Musk’s destruction of federally backed research programs through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
“If you want to fire your best researchers—those who, through their freedom, innovation, and pursuit of knowledge, helped make your country a world leader—then we’ll welcome them here,” Glucksmann declared.
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French people, was unveiled in New York Harbor on October 28, 1886, to mark the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. It was designed by French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi.