PARIS (TNND) — A French politician is calling for the United States to give back the Statue of Liberty claiming that Americans "have chosen to switch to the side of tyrants."

Center-left politician Raphaël Glucksmann made the comment over the weekend during a convention of his political party, Place Publique.

"We're going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty,'" Glucksmann said, according to French newspaper Le Monde. "We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So, it will be just fine here at home."

The statute was meant to be a monumental gesture of French-American friendship to mark the 100th anniversary of the July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence.

After being transported in 350 pieces from France, the statue was officially unveiled Oct. 28. 1886.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Glucksmann's comment on Monday calling him an "unnamed low-level French politician."

"I would like to remind France that it's only because of the USA that the French are not speaking German right now," Leavitt added referencing the U.S. saving France from Nazi Germany. "So they should be very grateful to our great country."

Glucksmann also criticized Trump's cuts to US research institutions by welcoming them to come to France.

"The second thing we're going to say to the Americans is: 'If you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and their sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world's leading power, then we're going to welcome them,'" Le Monde quoted him as saying.