Member of the European Parliament Rafael Glucksmann demanded US officials to return the Statue of Liberty to France. The current administration and the US president are showing that the values of freedom are not close to them with their decisions. Excerpts from the politician's speech on March 17, Sunday, were quoted by the AFP agency.
Glucksmann, who is actively supporting Ukraine, criticized Washington for getting closer to Moscow in his speech. According to him, the United States has "decided to side with the oppressors." The French politician also criticized the Donald Trump administration for firing scientists who emphasized academic freedom.
In this regard, the Member of the European Parliament called on the US to return the Statue of Liberty. "We gave it to you, but you do not appreciate it," he said, addressing the Americans.
The Statue of Liberty was created in France under the leadership of sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. It was a gift from France to the United States in honor of the 100th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, in which the French supported the Americans.
The 46-meter tall copper statue was unveiled in 1886 on Liberty Island in New York. Once a symbol of hope for a better life for millions of immigrants who waited to enter the United States on nearby Ellis Island, as noted by AFP.
Trump believes the US will annex Greenland
Donald Trump is confident that the United States will annex Greenland. During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on March 13, the US president responded to a question about the possible annexation of the island by saying, "I think it will happen." "We need this (Greenland) for international security," Trump explained. He also expressed confidence that Rutte would play a "significant role" in Greenland's accession to the US.
For his part, Mark Rutte stated that he "does not want to involve NATO in discussions on this issue," but acknowledged the importance of Greenland for Arctic security due to the increasing interest of Russia and China in the region.
Rasmus Jarlov, chairman of the defense committee of the Danish parliament, which includes Greenland, wrote on his X social media page that the US claims to the island could "lead to war between two NATO countries" and also criticized Mark Rutte's behavior during the meeting with Trump. "Greenland voted against immediate independence from Denmark and never wants to be American," Jarlov added.
