18.03.2025 09:53
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reacted to the demand for the return of the Statue of Liberty to France, stating, "If it weren't for the United States, the French would be speaking German by now. Therefore, they should be extremely grateful to our country."
The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded today during a press conference to a statement made by a French politician who claimed that the United States no longer embraces the values represented by the Statue of Liberty and suggested that the statue in New York should be returned to France.
"THEY SHOULD BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO OUR COUNTRY"
In response to a question about whether U.S. President Donald Trump would return the Statue of Liberty to France, Leavitt said, "Absolutely not. And I have a piece of advice for this unnamed low-level French politician. Without the United States, the French would already be speaking German. Therefore, they should be extremely grateful to our country."
THEY HAD REQUESTED THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
The request in question came from French parliamentarian Raphal Glucksmann. In a statement made on Sunday, Glucksmann claimed that the United States no longer represents the values that led to France gifting the Statue of Liberty to the U.S. and called for the statue to be returned to his country. Glucksmann stated, "We have something to say to the Americans who choose to side with dictators and fire researchers who advocate for scientific freedom. Give us back the Statue of Liberty."
The Statue of Liberty in New York City was gifted to the United States by France in 1886 to celebrate U.S. independence and the relationship between the two countries.