Raphaël Glucksmann: «Give us back the Statue of Liberty»
- Paul Aage Hegvik
- Mar 17
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 25
In a bold statement reflecting growing international discontent, French Euro-deputy Raphaël Glucksmann recently called for the United States to return the Statue of Liberty.
Place Publique is a French political movement founded in 2018. One of its co-founders is Raphaël Glucksmann, a French essayist, director, and politician born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. Glucksmann has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019, representing the Place Publique movement.
In the 2019 European elections, he led a joint list combining the Socialist Party and Place Publique. His political career has been marked by efforts to revitalize France's center-left and address contemporary social and environmental challenges.
No freedom values
Speaking at a convention March 16 for his Place Publique movement, Glucksmann argued that the U.S. no longer embodies the values the statue represents, citing shifts in American policy under President Donald Trump, including reduced support for Ukraine and cuts to scientific research funding.
–Siding with tyrants
The Statue of Liberty, unveiled in 1886, was a gift from France to the United States, symbolizing freedom and democracy. Glucksmann's remarks underscore a sentiment that the U.S. has strayed from these ideals, prompting his provocative demand: «Give us back the Statue of Liberty».
He criticized the U.S. for abandoning the values the statue represents, stating, «We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it.» Glucksmann condemned the U.S. for siding with tyrants and dismissing researchers advocating for scientific freedom. He proposed welcoming these dismissed American researchers to France, emphasizing their contributions to innovation and freedom.
«We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it»
Antiquities and shipwrecks
From disputed landmarks to historical injustices, various nations have called out the United States over past and present actions. Whether demanding the return of cultural icons or protesting long-standing grievances, these cases highlight ongoing global frustration with American policies.
Nations in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, have accused institutions like the Denver Art Museum of possessing looted antiquities and have called for their return. These efforts highlight a growing insistence on reclaiming cultural heritage and rectifying historical injustices.
In another instance, international cultural heritage lawyer Tim Maxwell has advocated for the return of treasures recovered from colonial-era shipwrecks to their countries of origin. He suggests that such actions could serve as reparations for slavery and exploitation, emphasizing the moral obligation of former colonial powers toward the nations they once exploited.
Looted artifacts of Mesopotamia
In the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, chaos erupted, and thousands of ancient artifacts were looted from the Iraq National Museum. Many of these treasures, some dating back to the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia, ended up in the U.S., either through black-market deals or in private collections.
One infamous case involved the Hobby Lobby smuggling scandal in which the company illegally purchased thousands of Iraqi relics, including cuneiform tablets, for its Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Under pressure, the U.S. returned over 17,000 stolen artifacts to Iraq in 2021, but many are still unaccounted for. Iraq continues to demand the return of cultural treasures that it claims were taken unlawfully.
Hawai'i: A stolen kingdom
The U.S. annexation of Hawai‘i in 1898 remains a deeply contested issue. Before becoming the 50th U.S. state, Hawai‘i was an independent kingdom, ruled by Queen Liliʻuokalani. In 1893, American-backed businessmen and sugar plantation owners orchestrated a coup d’état, overthrowing the Hawaiian monarchy with the support of U.S. military forces.
To this day, Native Hawaiian activists argue that their land was illegally occupied. The sovereignty movement has gained momentum in recent decades, with some groups advocating for the full restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Meanwhile, resentment lingers over the displacement of native people, environmental exploitation, and the heavy U.S. military presence in the islands.
Cuba: The battle over Guantánamo Bay
Cuba has long demanded the return of Guantánamo Bay, which has been under U.S. control since 1903. The U.S. originally leased the land as part of the Platt Amendment, but Cuba has consistently argued that the agreement was signed under coercion and is no longer valid.
The detention center at Guantánamo, where suspected terrorists have been held without trial since 2002, has further fueled resentment. Cuban leaders, including Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro, have repeatedly called for the U.S. to leave, yet Washington refuses. The U.S. even continues to send a symbolic rent check of $4,085 per year, which Cuba has never cashed, rejecting the lease as illegitimate.
Broken Promises: From the Statue of Liberty to Iran’s 1953
The story of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the 1953 CIA- and MI6-backed coup in Iran is one of the most significant events in modern Middle Eastern history.
The Statue of Liberty was meant to symbolize freedom, but today, even France questions if the U.S. still upholds its ideals.
Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the number of American tourists visiting Iran has been relatively low but has experienced periods of increase. For example, between March 21 and November 21, 2016, a total of 1,879 American tourists visited Iran.
Overall, Americans have consistently represented less than 1% of the approximately 6.5 million international visitors to Iran each year.
While there is no official U.S. travel ban to Iran, and Americans are legally permitted to visit, the U.S. Department of State has consistently issued travel advisories urging caution due to concerns over arbitrary detention and strained diplomatic relations. Consequently, the number of American tourists to Iran has remained modest since 1979.
1953 coup - CIA and Britain
Across the world, nations remember American interventions that shaped their histories—like Iran’s 1953 coup, where the CIA and Britain toppled Prime Minister Mossadegh to control oil.
From lost trust to long-standing grievances, these events continue to fuel resentment toward the U.S. today.
It set the stage for decades of tension between Iran and the West, particularly the United States and Britain. This coup was not only about power but also about oil, imperialism, and Cold War politics.
Who was Mohammad Mossadegh?
Born in 1882, Mohammad Mossadegh was a highly respected Iranian nationalist and politician. A well-educated man, he studied law in France and Switzerland before entering Iranian politics.
By the early 1950s, Iran was ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, but real power was shifting toward Mossadegh, who was elected Prime Minister in 1951. His most famous and controversial decision was to nationalize the British-controlled Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC)—the company that later became BP (British Petroleum).
Why did Britain and the U.S. want to get rid of Mossadegh?
1. Iran’s Oil was controlled by the British
Since the early 1900s, Britain had controlled Iran’s oil through AIOC, which paid Iran only a fraction of the profits while sending most of the wealth back to London. This was seen as deeply unfair, and Mossadegh sought to change that by taking control of Iran’s own oil resources.
2. Mossadegh’s nationalization of oil (1951)
In March 1951, Mossadegh led a bill to nationalize AIOC, which was approved by the Iranian parliament. This meant Iran, not Britain, would now own and control its oil industry. The British were outraged.
3. Britain tried to stop Iran economically
Britain responded by:
Placing an embargo on Iranian oil, preventing it from being sold internationally.
Blocking Iran’s access to international banking, crippling its economy.
Trying to convince the U.S. that Mossadegh was a communist, even though he was not.
At first, the U.S. under President Harry Truman was not eager to interfere. But when Dwight D. Eisenhower became president in 1953—at the height of the Cold War—Britain convinced him that Mossadegh’s policies could push Iran toward the Soviet Union.
The 1953 Coup (Operation Ajax)
With British support, the CIA and MI6 launched a covert operation—codenamed Operation Ajax—to overthrow Mossadegh. The goal was to restore the Shah's power and ensure that Iran’s oil remained under Western control.
How the coup happened
August 1953: The CIA began bribing politicians, religious leaders, and journalists to spread anti-Mossadegh propaganda.
Riots broke out in Tehran, some organized by the CIA.
The Shah initially fled to Italy, fearing he had lost control.
The Iranian military, with U.S. and British backing, removed Mossadegh from power on August 19, 1953.
Mossadegh was arrested, and the Shah was reinstated with absolute power.
Aftermath: A dictatorship and decades of resentment
Mossadegh was sentenced to house arrest until his death in 1967.
The Shah ruled as a pro-Western dictator, heavily supported by the U.S. He created a secret police force, SAVAK, which brutally suppressed opposition.
Iran’s oil industry was once again placed under Western control.
Why do Iranians still remember this?
The 1953 coup is one of the key reasons for Iranian distrust of the U.S. and Britain today. Many Iranians believe it was the starting point of Western interference, which led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, where the Shah was overthrown, and Ayatollah Khomeini established the Islamic Republic.
Apologies and declassified documents
In 2013, the CIA officially admitted for the first time that it was behind the coup.
In 2009, then-President Barack Obama acknowledged the U.S. role in destabilizing Iran, but no formal apology was given.
The British government has never officially apologized.
The long shadow of 1953
The 1953 coup was one of the most successful and damaging covert operations in history. It ensured Western control of Iran’s oil for decades but also fueled resentment that lasts to this day. Many Iranians see the U.S. and Britain as colonial powers that denied their country independence and democracy for the sake of profit.
This grievance is still a core reason behind anti-American sentiments in Iran and is often mentioned in political speeches and protests. When Iranians chant «Death to America», many are referring not just to modern politics but to the betrayal of 1953.
Decline in tourism to USA
Recent geopolitical tensions and policy decisions under President Donald Trump's administration have led to a notable decline in international tourism to the United States.
Many individuals and organizations from various countries have expressed reluctance to visit the U.S. during this period.
Indicates a 20% decline
The strained relationship between Canada and the U.S., exacerbated by President Trump's rhetoric and the imposition of tariffs, has according to Reuters resulted in a significant decrease in Canadian tourism to the United States. For instance, the latest flight booking data indicates a 20% decline in new bookings from Canada since February 1. This downturn has adversely affected U.S. border regions that traditionally rely on Canadian visitors.
Tourist canceled a $7,000
Some Canadians, according to Business Insider, have taken personal stands by canceling trips to the U.S. and boycotting American products. For example, a Canadian tourist canceled a $7,000 Airbnb reservation in Palm Springs due to growing tensions between the two countries.
9.5 million jobs
The U.S. travel and tourism industry, which contributed approximately $2.3 trillion to the economy in 2022 and supported 9.5 million jobs, is experiencing challenges due to these geopolitical strains. A decline in international visitors not only affects economic revenue but also hampers cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
