White House says France would be 'speaking German' without US help in World War II

In response to a call by a French member of the European parliament for the return of the Statue of Liberty, the White House on Mar. 18 rejected it — and added that France would be “speaking German” without U.S. help in World War II.

“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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Politicians in France want the Statue of Liberty back, and Trump’s press secretary had the craziest response. 😭🗽
pic.twitter.com/VhhYkcikSJ

— DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) March 17, 2025

What French parliamentarian said

Raphael Glucksmann, French member of the European Parliament, had reportedly said at a party convention on Mar. 17 that America no longer embodied the spirit of the monument under the Trump administration, according to Politico.

But his comments were apparently not serious.

Glucksmann's comments were reportedly made while "grinning" with "his own tongue in cheek".

“We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home,” Glucksmann added, according to French media.

“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,’” Glucksmann added, as reported by Politico.

On a more serious note, Glucksmann also suggested that France could benefit if Americans chose to emigrate in the wake of losing their jobs having been fired under the new Trump administration.

Background

France gifted the U.S. the Statue of Liberty in 1884 to formalise diplomatic ties.

It was also to enshrine the concept of American independence from Great Britain and the end of slavery.

Top photo via White House