French deputy wants a statue of freedom back; White House rejects

In recent days, Washington has suspended help to Kiev in the war against Russia, which has made Europeans perplexed and the Ukrainians alarmed by the risk of losing whole parts of the country.

Glucksmann also criticized attacks on “scientific freedom” in the US and measures to dismantle research in health and climate.

“If you want to dismiss your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made their country the greatest power worldwide, so let’s get them,” said Glucksmann.

“Give us back to the statue of freedom. Let’s tell Americans that they chose to be on the Tyran side, the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: ‘Give us the statue of freedom.’ We gave you as a gift.”

In 1884, France gave the US the statue of freedom as part of the celebrations for the 100 years of American independence. Nicknamed “Lady Liberty”, the statue was placed on an island in New York.

It was only after its inauguration that the monument became a symbol for immigrants who landed in the city. This was due to a poem that was put on its base and became a motto of the “American dream.”