The White House, on Monday reacted to a demand by a French politician, Raphaël Glucksmann, who urged the United States to return the Statue of Liberty.
Speaking at a party convention on Sunday, the member of the Place Publique party criticized the US for its recent stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Glucksmann, a supporter of Ukraine, noted that America had shifted position and “have chosen to side with the tyrants”, adding “Give us back the Statue of Liberty.”
The European Parliament member also said France would welcome the “best researchers” and people who made America the world’s leading power if they were fired.
At a media briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if President Donald Trump would return the statue to France.
“Absolutely not,” Leavitt asserted, saying the people of France “should be very grateful” to the United States.
“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,” Leavitt said.
France presented the Statue of Liberty in New York to the US in 1884 as a gift to commemorate the relationship between the two countries.