White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt has denounced the lowly French politician who made headlines to demand that the US return the Statue of Liberty.
During a press conference on Monday, Leavitt reminded Rafael Gruxman, a member of the European Parliament and co-chairman of France's small leftist party, that he would speak German if not for the American army.
Fox News correspondent Peter Doucy asked Leavitt on Monday whether President Donald Trump would give him the Statue of Liberty, which has returned to France since the 1800s to adorn the ports in New York City.
French lawmakers want us to return the Statue of Liberty: “Apparently you're making a splash on it.”
Press Director Caroline Levitt will give a speech during a daily briefing at the White House on March 17th, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
“It's definitely not,” Levitt said with a smile. “And my advice to that unknown, low-level French politician is to remind them that it is only for the United States that the French don't speak German now.”
“So they should be very grateful to our great nation,” she added, nodding at the way the American troops liberated France from the occupation of Nazi Germany in World War II.
In a speech to supporters of his public place party on Sunday, Glucksmann told the United States, “Please give the Statue of Liberty back.”
“It was our gift for you. But apparently you're spooking her. So she'll be happy here with us,” Glucksmann won applause and whi from the audience.
Glucksmann's party has posted accusations on its website that Trump has wielded power in a “authoritarian” way, “preparing to deliver Ukraine on a silver platter.”
In his speech, Glucksmann referred to words about the statue of New York poet Emma Lazarus. “The mighty woman with a torch” has promised a home for “a gathering masses who want to breathe freely.”
Rafael Glaxman of the European Parliament took place in Strasbourg, eastern France on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photos/Pascal Bastien, File)
“Today, this land is no longer what it is,” Glucksmann said.
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French President Emmanuel Macron played the role of his prime minister, François Baileau, as the more critical voice of the Trump administration. Bailu condemned what was called “cruelty” displayed to Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky during his visit to the White House, suggesting that Trump's administration risked passing victory over Russia when it suspended military aid to Ukraine.
UNESCO points out that the Statue of Liberty is a UN cultural arm on its list of World Heritage Treasures, and that the iconic monument is a property of the US government.
The first was envisioned as a monumental gesture of French-American friendship, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
The war that broke out between the French and German states in 1870 between the Prussian-led German states distracted the energy of French sculptor Frederic Augaste Barttrudi, the designer of the monument.
The gift also took time to fund, and the French decided to pay for the statue, allowing the Americans to cover the costs of the pedestal.
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Carried in 350 pieces from France, the statue was officially announced on October 28, 1886.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
