The White House rejected the call to return the freedom Goddess statue to France, asserting that the European nation "could have spoken German" without US support in World War II.
When asked about the possibility of returning the statue, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said firmly: "Certainly not".
The speech was made on March 17 (local time), after French lawmaker Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the European Parliament, said that France should take back the statue of the Goddess of Liberity because the US no longer represents the values that Paris was aiming for when presenting the statue. Mr. Glucksmann also accused the US of "seem to be disregarding the statue".
In response, Ms. Leavitt criticized Mr. Glucksmann's statement and emphasized the role of the US in liberating France from German occupation by the Socialist Republic. "My advice to the unknown, low-ranking French politicians is to remember that thanks to the US, the French now do not have to speak German. Therefore, they should be very grateful for our wonderful country," said Ms. Leavitt.
Leavitt's statement surprised the media, when she mentioned the World War II event as an argument to affirm US ownership of the statue. The French government has not yet commented on this statement.
The statue of the Goddess of Peace was inaugurated on October 28, 1886 at New York Port, a gift given to the United States by the French people. The 46m high statue, crowned with 7 thorns symbolizes the glory of the sun shining all over the world. The statue holds a stone plaque engraved with a Roman digital number on the day of the American independence, while the broken chain at the foot of the statue symbolizes the abolishment of slavery.
