Relations between France and the US have been off to a rocky start since President Trump took office in January, thanks to the US President’s stance on a whole number of political issues, from the Ukraine war and Nato to economic tariffs. While Macron seemed in good spirits while in Washington last month for a press conference with Trump, he’s also doubled down on the need for France and Europe to reduce its dependency on the US, both economically and militarily, in recent weeks.

The latest event to make the headlines was yesterday, when French politician and MEP Raphaël Glucksmann, while criticising the US’ dramatic change of policy regarding the war in Ukraine and widespread cuts on scientific research funding, called on the US to return the Statue of Liberty. While the move was somewhat of a publicity stunt, Glucksmann did drive home an important message: “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. ” he said, provocatively. (Sidenote: in case you didn’t know, the Statue of Liberty was designed by Frenchman Auguste Bartholdi and gifted to America by France to mark the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence in 1886).

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, perhaps unsurprisingly, with an equally low blow, saying: “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, so they should be very grateful to our great country”.

It’s safe to say that the Statue of Liberty won’t be shipped off to France any time soon.

Seen in  French Entrée