₦airaland Forum

Raphael Glucksmann says ‘those who chose to side with tyrants, we gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it’

France should take back the Statue of Liberty because the US no longer represents the values that led France to offer the statue, a French MEP said Sunday.

“Give us back the Statue of Liberty”, centre-Left politician Raphael Glucksmann said at a convention of his Place Publique centre-left movement.

Mr Glucksmann rose to prominence last summer and has become a key figure in the increasingly powerful Leftist alliance in France.

His comments come as Donald Trump’s presidency has spread widespread fears about the future of European security and democracy in America.

“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’,” Mr Glucksmann told cheering supporters.

We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home,” he added.

The Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York City’s harbour on October 28 1886, for the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence as a gift from the French people to America. It was designed by Frenchman Auguste Bartholdi.

Paris does have a far smaller copy of the statue on a small island on the Seine in Paris.

Glucksmann, a staunch defender of Ukraine, has strongly criticised Mr Trump’s radical change of US policy on the war.

He also took aim at Trump’s cuts to US research institutions, which have already prompted a French government initiative to attract some of them to work in France


“The second thing we’re going to say to the Americans is: ‘if you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and their sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world’s leading power, then we’re going to welcome them’,” continued Glucksmann.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January, his government has cut federal research funding and sought to dismiss hundreds of federal workers working on health and climate research.

Glucksmann also criticised far-Right leaders in France, accusing them of being a “fan club” for Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who is spearheading the president’s efforts to cut spending.

Source:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/16/give-us-back-the-statue-of-liberty-french-mep-tells-america/

...Just like "give us back Panama Canal."

I used to think Nigerian electorates were the WORST, then I met the Americans.

At least, the Nigerian electorates got 5 cups of rice and #2k to DESTROY their country. The Americans did it for FREE.

Don't dare that crazy Trump! He may tell France to pay $5 billion and carry it. That man is sick!

Since the Congress has made itself a rubber-stamp legislative arm, the Supreme Court should check Trump's excesses. If not, he will create enemies for America all over the world.

I don't think France is in any position to ask for repatriation, if we check what has been taken from africa

Lol

Before America had their election, some people believed that Donald "Parker" Trump will make America 'ggrrrreeaatt' again...

Donald "Parker" Trump is now the war fermenter with his policies both within & outside America.

Since his policies of deportation, import taxation increments & so forth, it's time for retribution. Trump should DEPORT the statue of Liberty cos Liberty has left America

France, Germany, Sweden and their ilks are nothing but toothless dogs..

Sometimes, I sit to reason and I'm like, "Africans mumu sha!" How they allowed these toothless countries to be lord over them is still one of the most stupid issues yet unresolved..

If we were serious as a continent and as a country like Nigeria, we would have been having solid military and sociopolitical discussions/engagement with the US, Russia and China. But it is a shame that we are no where when serious global issues are discussed...

America and almost the entire western world has become a dictatorship before our own very eyes

Took France 200years to release the death body of Sarah Baartman to South Africans.

France and Emmanuel Macron have decided to become leaders of the free world since the United States decided it no more wanted that role.

Last week France tested landing a large tonnage aircraft together with 400 troops on ice in Greenland. The plane they used has more carrying capacity than the C-130. Though the plane France used is nowhere as large as the American C-5 galaxy which is the largest such aircraft in the world.

France is indicating that it is ready to marshal forces in defence of Europe and will go toe to toe with America if it comes to that. Whatever has to be said, the global order that has kept the world together for the past 80 years is no more.

Trump has set America back by 100 years all the trust and confidence bestowed on America. The daft is gradually eroding it away.

America has issues to grind with Canada, France Portugal,spain and even Germany. So sad.

Man must be a gay and Trump is pissing him off

Just like that? 😁

ALISMILE:
America and almost the entire western world has become a dictatorship before our own very eyes

Absolutely.

Trump claims he is pushing towards correcting trade deficits with it's allied nations tru tariff threats.

He claims that America has been giving to all nations, without receiving back.

The US ($)dollars in paper that all those nations have been trading with, can America back it up? Is there an equal collateral for it?

In effect, America also became very rich via exploiting the international market tru dollarization. The collective wealth of other nations has continuously been transferred to the US.

It's therefore normal to give back to those countries. But now he is trying to form a victim, coz it's obvious that centralization of the US dollar is under a threat.

Also, a major reason he is keen on acquiring Canada is coz Canada is the 4th largest deposit of collective solid mineral base in the world. A combination of Canadian and American mineral resources will make USA have the largest mineral base in the world.

Trump don climb tree pass leaf

It is a treasure to them now, I doubt if it will be returned back to France...
Well it is a gift.. It can be returned

wiseone28:
Return the Eiffel tower too

To where? It was made in France by the French.

Namaster:
I used to think Nigerian electorates were the WORST, then I met the Americans.

At least, the Nigerian electorates got 5 cups of rice and #2k to DESTROY their country. The Americans did it for FREE.

And the opposition was doing the same..

The problem with Nigeria, especially tinubu and obi supporters is that they are only interested in Nigeria's problems as a means to get into power

See raccoon and helinues. In 2014 they were on other sides of the fence now they are talking different things.

Anytime it is time to discuss how to solve our problems , and why what tinubu is doing is not enough and why GEJ was a failure...the abuse comes out.

Hope this is not where the US will dump it for them?
All you world powers should stop lobbying for WWIII o!

Make una go sit down. Which business man wil hold the upper hand or high ground in bargain and not use it. America has two conscious arm now. Left/right Deal with it. When the left comes into power you can have liberty..for noe its what it is. grow some balls abeg.

ALISMILE:
America and almost the entire western world has become a dictatorship before our own very eyes

Not exactly.

Most of the people who voted for trump are.from.areas of the USA where in the 1960s you could leave high school and get a decent job. That era has gone thanks to.china.

And the political mainstream wasn't offering immediate solutions

Hence trump

nairalanda1:
And the opposition was doing the same..

The problem with Nigeria, especially tinubu and obi supporters is that they are only interested in Nigeria's problems as a means to get into power

See raccoon and helinues. In 2014 they were on other sides of the fence now they are talking different things.

Anytime it is time to discuss how to solve our problems , and why what tinubu is doing is not enough and why GEJ was a failure...the abuse comes out.

Guy, you see why I dey always tagged you false morality minister

I dare you to mention one single Nairaland who made contributions pass me on this forum. I am talking about issue based, solution proffering.

I am daring you.

I really dont know why you like to accuse me wrongly on this forum

The minimum wage N70-N80K not less or more is one of the issue I contributed on with reference

Trump will only destroy America after four years...

helinues:
Guy, you see why I dey always tagged you false morality minister

I dare you to mention one single Nairaland who made contributions pass me on this forum. I am talking about issue based, solution proffering.

I am daring you.

I really dont know why you like to accuse me wrongly on this forum

You, omenka, raccoon, boboclo and Madridguy are all alike.

Namaster:
I used to think Nigerian electorates were the WORST, then I met the Americans.

At least, the Nigerian electorates got 5 cups of rice and #2k to DESTROY their country. The Americans did it for FREE.

Those ones are the most foolish. I guess its because they have never before now lived under a Dictatorship. Now they will know what being a Dictator is.

They are already having buyers remorse but it is.too late because they will learn,and they will learn the very hard way

Ok

L

nairalanda1:

Don't just laugh, take up the challenges.

Its becoming boring for you just to be using my monikers to be scoring cheap likes

RaySimran:
Raphael Glucksmann says ‘those who chose to side with tyrants, we gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it’



Source:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/16/give-us-back-the-statue-of-liberty-french-mep-tells-america/

This is plain petty