Greek officials urge Trump to pressure Britain over Parthenon marbles

In an exclusive interview, Adonis Georgiadis, Greece’s vice-president and health minister, urged Donald Trump to use his influence to secure the return of the Parthenon marbles from Britain, describing it as a chance to secure a legacy lasting "centuries." He framed the issue as a matter of Western cultural pride and cited historical grievances over Lord Thomas Bruce’s removal of the sculptures during Ottoman rule. Konstantinos Kyranakis, a Greek MP and party secretary, added that Trump’s involvement would represent leadership that preserves the foundations of Western civilization.

Pro-return advocates including Andrew A. David and Endy Zemenides of the Hellenic American Leadership Council said British objections are no longer credible. The officials highlighted recent political shifts in the UK, noting the fall of Keir Starmer and the rise of Andy Burnham, as an opening for diplomatic pressure. They argued that reunifying the marbles would complete, rather than rewrite, history and reinforce the symbolism of the Parthenon as the birthplace of democracy.