George Clooney Hits Back at Trump After President Mocks His French Citizenship

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Los Angeles: George Clooney has responded sharply to criticism from US President Donald Trump after the president mocked the actor and his family for becoming French citizens.

Clooney, 64, his wife Amal Clooney, and their two children were granted French citizenship earlier this month after spending several years living at their home in southern France. The actor has praised France’s strong privacy laws and said the move has allowed his family to live away from intense media scrutiny in Hollywood.

Trump reacted to the news in a post on Truth Social, deriding the Clooneys as “two of the worst political prognosticators of all time” and suggesting France could “have” the couple amid what he described as the country’s immigration and crime challenges. The president also dismissed Clooney’s film career, claiming the actor had gained more attention for politics than for what he called “mediocre” movies.

In response, Clooney said that he agreed with Trump’s campaign slogan, adding pointedly: “We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November,” a reference to the upcoming US midterm elections.

The actor, a long-time Democratic supporter and frequent critic of Trump, has said his family is “happiest” in France. Clooney purchased the Domaine du Canadel, a former wine estate near the town of Brignoles in Provence, in 2021.

The decision to grant French citizenship to the Clooneys has also sparked debate within France, coming just ahead of stricter language requirements for naturalisation that take effect from 1 January. Under the new rules, applicants must demonstrate a level of French sufficient for university admission and pass a civic knowledge test.

Clooney has acknowledged that his French remains limited despite extensive language lessons, while Amal Clooney, an international human rights lawyer and dual UK-Lebanese national, is fluent in French.

A junior government official, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, raised concerns about perceptions of a “double standard” in granting citizenship to high-profile figures. However, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and the French foreign ministry defended the decision, stating it complied fully with French law.

The foreign ministry said the Clooneys met the legal criteria for naturalisation, citing George Clooney’s contribution to France’s cultural influence through the film industry and Amal Clooney’s work with international and academic institutions based in France. Officials also confirmed that the process included security checks, interviews, and the payment of required fees.

According to interior ministry figures, nearly 48,800 people acquired French nationality by decree in 2024.

Clooney is not the only American public figure seeking French citizenship. Film director Jim Jarmusch announced this week that he is also applying, saying he wants a place where he can “escape the United States.”