George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney, and their two children have been granted French citizenship, a development confirmed by French government documents. Following this news, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted comments on Truth Social regarding the family and their political views. George Clooney subsequently issued a direct response. The Clooney family acquired an estate in France in 2021, citing privacy concerns and France's cultural environment as reasons for their residence.
French Citizenship Details
George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney (who was naturalized under her maiden name Amal Alamuddin), and their seven-year-old twins were granted French citizenship. This naturalization was confirmed through official documents published by France's Ministry of Justice and a French government bulletin. George Clooney will maintain his American citizenship, while Amal Clooney holds British-Lebanese citizenship. The couple's children were born in London.
The Clooney family acquired an 18th-century estate in Provence, France, in 2021, and spend a significant portion of their time there. George Clooney has stated that their French residence serves as their primary home. He cited France's privacy laws as a primary reason for their move, expressing concerns about raising his children in the public culture of Hollywood and the associated media attention. He also noted that his wife and children are fluent in French.
France's Foreign Ministry clarified that the Clooneys were eligible for citizenship under a law permitting it for foreign nationals who contribute to the country's international influence and cultural outreach. The ministry specifically mentioned George Clooney's global status as a movie star and Amal Clooney's work with French academic institutions and international organizations.
Donald Trump's Remarks
Following the news of the Clooney family's French naturalization, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on New Year's Eve. In his statement, Trump commented on the couple's political views, characterizing them as "two of the worst political prognosticators of all time."
Trump linked the Clooneys' French citizenship to what he described as France's "major crime problem" due to immigration, drawing a parallel to the immigration situation he attributed to the Biden administration in the United States. He also criticized George Clooney for his support of then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election and suggested that Clooney had gained more public attention for his political activities than for his film career. Trump's post also referred to Clooney's movies as "totally mediocre."
George Clooney's Response
George Clooney issued a statement the following day in response to Trump's comments. In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney stated, "I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We'll start in November."
Political Engagement and Past Interactions
Both Donald Trump and George Clooney have engaged in public exchanges over the years. George Clooney is a known activist and donor to the Democratic Party, maintaining involvement in U.S. politics.
In July 2024, George Clooney published an op-ed in The New York Times, advocating for then-President Joe Biden to withdraw from his 2024 reelection campaign to allow for another Democratic candidate. President Biden subsequently withdrew from the race by the end of that month. In November of the previous year, Clooney confirmed his position on the op-ed but stated he believed it would be a mistake for Kamala Harris to become the alternative candidate. He commented on the difficulty of a candidate running against their own record in a primary context.
Clooney has previously criticized Trump regarding press freedoms during his portrayal of journalist Edward R. Murrow. Trump has also publicly criticized Clooney, including a social media post referring to him as a "fake movie actor" after his New York Times op-ed. Clooney recalled that he and Trump had previously been on friendly terms during Trump's period in reality television, a relationship Clooney described as having changed.
George Clooney has affirmed his intention to continue exercising his right to freedom of speech, stating he selects specific issues on which to speak out. In a separate interview, Clooney expressed criticism of CBS and ABC for settling lawsuits related to the Trump administration and voiced concerns about the editorial direction of CBS News under its editor in chief, Bari Weiss. Weiss later extended an invitation for Clooney to visit the CBS Broadcast Center.