A French European Parliament member, Raphael Glucksmann, took a swipe at the United States, demanding that America return the Statue of Liberty—a statement that, beyond being absurd, underscores just how out of touch some European politicians are when it comes to understanding their own history.
Glucksmann, a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, made his remarks in response to U.S. policies that he claimed undermine “scientific freedom” and align with “tyrants.” His exact words:
“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.’”
The irony here is staggering. Where was Glucksmann when people were being fired for speaking out against government overreach just a few years ago—when the scientific consensus was treated as unquestionable dogma and dissent was silenced? Under President Donald Trump, the administration is actively working to eliminate the censorship and bureaucratic excesses that suffocated free speech and scientific inquiry during the previous administration.
.@PressSec responds to the low-level French politician who apparently wants the Statue of Liberty back: “It’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now.” pic.twitter.com/4JAJKADxWE
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 17, 2025
It’s also worth noting that Glucksmann’s complaint seems to stem from efforts to make government leaner and more efficient—a concept that Europe has long struggled with. If he believes cutting bloated bureaucracies is an attack on scientific freedom, that might help explain why his continent is drowning in debt, stagnation, and bureaucratic inefficiency.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about Glucksmann’s comments by Fox News’ Peter Doocy during Monday’s press briefing. His question—whether President Trump was planning to “send the Statue of Liberty back”—set up one of the sharpest responses of Leavitt’s tenure so far.
“Absolutely not,” she firmly replied.
Then she delivered the real knockout punch:
“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—they should be very grateful to our great country.”
That is how you handle absurd European grandstanding.
Leavitt’s response was perfect—not only did she dismiss Glucksmann as the minor political figure he is, but she also reminded him (and the world) of an undeniable fact: without the United States, France’s history would look very different.
America has spent the better part of the last century defending Europe—rescuing France in two world wars, standing as the backbone of NATO, and protecting Western Europe from Soviet domination during the Cold War. The Statue of Liberty was a gift, yes—but it symbolizes the very freedoms that America has defended for them time and time again.
Yet, despite all of that, America continues to receive sneering condescension from European elites who seem to have forgotten just how much they owe the U.S. It’s a pattern that has played out for decades—Europeans enjoy the protection and economic stability that America’s leadership provides, but their political class still delights in taking cheap shots at the very country that has ensured their security.
