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‘Shocking, Insulting': Karoline Leavitt's France Remark Stuns Critics

‘Shocking, Insulting': Karoline Leavitt's France Remark Stuns Critics

Yahoo18-03-2025

Critics have slammed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's response to a French lawmaker's call for the Statue of Liberty to be returned to France.
Leavitt's remark was 'insulting,' 'shocking' and 'f**king disgusting,' said commenters on social media.
European Parliament member Raphael Glucksmann said Sunday that America under President Donald Trump no longer represents the values of freedom and democracy that have become synonymous with the statue. Glucksmann suggested the landmark, which France gave to America to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence, should come home.
Fox News' Peter Doocy asked Leavitt during Monday's White House press briefing if Trump would agree to that.
'Absolutely not,' Leavitt replied.
'And 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,' she continued.
Leavitt concluded: 'So, they should be very grateful to our great country.'
Leavitt: "It's only because of the United States of America that the French aren't speaking German right now." pic.twitter.com/xWI60MobrE
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 17, 2025
The comment prompted a history lesson on social media, given France's assistance in the American Revolution, and other countries' roles alongside America in World War II.
Michael McFaul, the Obama-era U.S. ambassador to Russia and current professor of political science at Stanford University, described it as 'such a shocking, insulting statement about an ally from anyone, let alone a senior White House official.'
'Who told her to say this? She obviously got in from somewhere,' he added. 'Im hope our @PressSec knows that it's only because of the French that we have an independent United States of America.'
Others made similar scathing points.
Such a shocking, insulting statement about an ally from anyone, let alone a senior White House official.Who told her to say this? She obviously got in from somewhere. Im hope our @PressSec knows that it's only because of the French that we have an independent United States… https://t.co/C6ZEylEpbS
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) March 18, 2025
White House job description.The honest and principled need not apply.Leave the integrity at home.
— shatners (@shatners144143) March 17, 2025
Delicious irony that without France, the United States would be- of all places- Canada. https://t.co/G53DcTQgav
— Fergus Butler-Gallie (@_F_B_G_) March 17, 2025
That's a common gross oversimplification from those who are ignorant about history. WW II would've been won by the allies even without US military help. The Lend/Lease program was helping the UK a lot + the Soviets were starting to get their act together by the time the US got in
— Chris F. - Proud 🇨🇦 (@SPTO) March 17, 2025
America has well and truly entered its fragile ego era. https://t.co/83zfjryBHo
— Charlie Pickering (@charliepick) March 17, 2025
The Soviet Union and the UK played a HUGE role in Germany's defeat in WW2. She might also lol up Malta. That tiny little nation defended itself in an incredibly heroic way. France is also our oldest ally going back to the Revolutionary War. https://t.co/ft5og7hL4Z
— Juliet Jeske 🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@JulietJeske) March 17, 2025
If it wasn't for the French during the American Revolution, we never would have beaten the British, ya idgit Karoline Leavitt, you are so dumb that you make a bag of rocks look smart.
— Susa E Jordan (@SusaEJordan) March 17, 2025
This idiot here…what an ignorant and stupid administration. https://t.co/lSmIRUzsl4
— Courtney. Love. (@Courtney_Luv) March 17, 2025
Our very bold policy of demanding allies say thank you to us continues. Unclear if the American people have any additional thank yous to show for it. https://t.co/Zdgpc5z3ux
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) March 17, 2025
Wow. Of all the disrespectful shit that has come out of this administration, taking the full credit for WW2 has got to be the most disrespectful and bullshit.20-25 million people from nations all over the world died fighting against the Nazis.This is fucking disgusting.
— Bill the Beaver 🇨🇦 (@TrueNorthStr0ng) March 17, 2025
"It's only because of the United States of America that the French aren't speaking German right now."Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/nZ3C52YLoa
— Simon Gosden. Esq. #fbpe 3.5% 🇪🇺🐟🇬🇧🏴☠️🦠💙 (@g_gosden) March 17, 2025
A French politician is asking for the Statue of Liberty back.Karoline Leavitt retorts "it's only because of the United States of America that the French aren't speaking German right now."If she wants to play the oversimplification game, then it's thanks to funding from France… pic.twitter.com/6mKCgvivhM
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) March 17, 2025
Incredible to see a 27-year-old say some shit my grandfather used to bark at me after a few whiskeys. I had no idea this many Gen Z kids would become Boomers. https://t.co/iWq8lPJbFe
— Dan Wilbur (@DanWilbur) March 17, 2025
Idk how you explain to younger generations that the shit she spews from the WH press podium daily would've been a career-ending, administration-defining, round-the-clock, international scandal not that long ago. https://t.co/lqaNAHkI3O
— Jake McClory (@JakeMcClory) March 17, 2025
Show me you don't understand the history of France in WW2 in 22 seconds... oh you did pic.twitter.com/qEJsN3KR0J
— Otto English (@Otto_English) March 17, 2025
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