Legal reason France could never 'take back' Statue of Liberty as White House brutally rejects proposal
Raphaël Glucksmann suggests the USA is no longer worthy of the monument
Featured Image Credit: Gary Hershorn / Contributor / Getty
While we're busy worrying about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and whether someone like President Vladimir Putin is about to trigger World War III, it seems France is occupying itself by asking for the Statue of Liberty back.
Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel, the Statue of Liberty was a gift to America from the people of France and was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886.
Representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, the copper-clad statue has a torch in her right hand and a tablet inscribed with the date of the US Declaration of Independence in her left.
Her left foot stands on a broken chain and shackle that honors the abolition of slavery after the American Civil War.
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The Statue of Liberty has since become one of the USA's most iconic landmarks, but according to French politician Raphaël Glucksmann, the country is no longer worthy of housing her. Speaking at a rally, the member of the European Parliament and left-wing Place Publique party accused some Americans of choosing to "switch to the side of the tyrants."
Aiming his disdain at President Donald Trump, Glucksmann said: "Give us back the Statue of Liberty. It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her. So she will be happy here with us."
The White House has since said that France should be 'grateful' for the USA helping it in World War I and World War II, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterating America will 'absolutely not' be letting go of the Statue of Liberty anytime soon: "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."
Glucksmann then fired back on X by saying that while France has 'eternal' gratefulness for America's aid, that's not enough: "If the free world no longer interests your government, then we will take up the torch, here in Europe.
"No one, of course, will come and steal the Statue of Liberty. The statue is yours. But what it embodies belongs to everyone."
As much as Glucksmann might want America to 'give back' the Statue of Liberty, it's now property of the USA.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lists the Statue of Liberty on its list of World Heritage treasures, adding that it's property of the U.S. government. After being designated as a National Monument in 1924, it currently has the highest level of protection possible.
Glucksmann has said his comments about the Statue of Liberty are designed as a 'wake-up call' and added: "We all in Europe love this nation to which we know we owe so much. It will rise again. You will rise again. We are counting on you."
Sorry, it looks like Lady Liberty is staying put.