Tono Balaguer / Canva
Statue of Liberty in New York, a US symbol
“Give us the statue of freedom,” a member of the European Parliament said. “Not at all,” replied the White House: “It’s just because of the United States that the French are not talking German at this time.”
The White House rejected on Monday the unusual requirement of a French politician to return the statue of freedom to France.
Raphaël Glucksmannmember of the European Parliament, criticized this Sunday the administration led by US President Donald Trump at a party convention.
“Let’s tell Americans who chose to be on the tyrannos side, the Americans who said goodbye investigators for demanding scientific freedom: ‘Give us the statue of freedom’”, Said Glucksmann, referring to general discharge in the US Department of Human Health and Human Services, who saw thousands of public health scientists and employees from being dismissed during the second Trump administration.
Significant cuts in research scholarships also raised concerns about the future of American scientific institutions.
Glucksmann argued that recent US policies are inconsistent with the ideals represented by the statue, and according to the newspaper, he suggested that if the US no longer valued these domains, France would welcome the opportunity to absorb its researchers.
But the White House did not let the episode blank, and stressed that the United States remains the legitimate guardian of the historic monument.
During a press conference on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected the idea. “Not at all”, He responded to the French politician, remembering a darker past.
“My advice to this low-level French political anonymous would be to remember that it is only because of the United States that the French are not talking German at this time,” said the secretary, referring to the role of the United States in the liberation of France during World War II: “they should be grateful.”
The famous monument, offered by France to the US in the late nineteenth century, symbolizes democracy, independence and freedom.
Despite criticism, France has no legal basis to claim the statue, which remains the property of the US government.
